Report finds no cause for deadly Hawkeye crash

[unhappycamper]

Report finds no cause for deadly Hawkeye crash
By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Aug 25, 2008 14:38:13 EDT

NORFOLK, Va. — It took just 10 seconds for an E-2C Hawkeye to crash after flying off the deck of the carrier Harry S. Truman one year ago, killing three aviators. But according to the accident report, the cause is still a mystery due to insufficient evidence.

Lts. Ryan K. Betton, Cameron N. Hall and Jerry R. Smith were killed Aug. 15, 2007, when their Hawkeye crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina. According to the Judge Advocate General Manual investigation report, which was obtained by Navy Times through a Freedom of Information Act request, the sea state was “normal” when the airplane catapulted off the deck at 11:10 p.m.

“All indications were normal until the aircraft ceased standard climb and began descent until impact with the water. There were no emergency radio transmissions or acknowledgement by the mishap crew,” the report states. “The aircraft impacted the ocean approximately ½ mile from CVN 75 in a visible explosion.”

Searchers found only parts of the aircraft’s tail “and crew helmets were discovered on the surface,” though remains “were never recovered.” “The evidence is not sufficient to form an opinion on the cause or causes of the mishap,” the report said.

Salvage crews searched for clues for four months after the mishap using deep-diving remote operating vehicles. No grounds for disciplinary action were established and the crew was determined to have “died in the line of duty and not according to any misconduct.”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/navy_hawkeye_082508w/%2e