2007 Blue Angels South Carolina crash
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Blue Angels South Carolina crash occurred on April 21, 2007 when the Number 6 US Navy
Blue Angels
jet crashed during the final minutes of an air show at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
in Beaufort, South Carolina
. The sole fatality was confirmed and identified as the pilot, Lieutenant Commander
Kevin 'Kojak' Davis, by the Blue Angels organization spokesman in a news conference on 22 April 2007. The body of the pilot and the black box
were later recovered and moved to the local coroner's office.
There were eight injuries reported on the ground.
A report was released on 15 January 2008, ending the investigation by the Navy into the crash. The report states that when Commander Davis pulled back into a 6.8 G pull
, he lost control of the airplane due to the effect of greyout. The Report also states that the Blue Angels are not considering the use of G-suit
s in future performances, even though this would have saved the pilot in this crash.
Early reporting indicated that all six planes were making their final turns into the landing pattern when Blue Angel #6 flew behind the audience and low over a tree-line, three miles away from air show center, and possibly clipped power lines and a tall pine tree near Shanklin Road. This was followed by a large plume of black smoke, which Blue Angel #1 immediately began to circle while the others landed. A local official later said that due to safety regulations, there was only a very slim possibility that the tree or power lines could have brought the aircraft down. The plane slid for two hundred to three hundred yards after it hit the ground, crashing through homes and vehicles. Seconds after the crash, several rescue helicopters and local emergency vehicles went to the crash site in response to 9-1-1
calls. The Navy
identified the pilot as LCDR
Kevin J. Davis of Pittsfield, Massachusetts
, the opposing solo in the #6 jet.
, Florida
, to discuss continuing their season. Sunday's air show went on as planned but, in a special tribute, the GEICO Skytypers flew the missing man formation
in honor of the fallen Blue Angel.
Soon after LCDR Davis’ crash, the Blue Angels began performing a five-jet demonstration. The squadron called back former Blue Angel, LCDR Craig Olson, to fill the opposing solo position. He began performing after practicing with the team for a few weeks. LCDR Olson served with the squadron from 2003 through 2005 during which time he flew both solo positions. Navy's Judge Advocate General Manual investigation report recommends the Blue Angels considering using G-suits in demonstrations.
The fears stimulated by the crash have had some lingering effects. Since the 1980s the Blue Angels have performed as part of the festivities for San Francisco's annual Fleet Week
. However, the crash has caused some in the city of San Francisco to lose confidence in the practicality and safety of the Blue Angels' performance in an urban area. San Francisco Supervisor
Chris Daly
brought a resolution up to San Francisco's board of supervisors in an effort to ban the Angels' performance. The resolution sparked outrage among many Bay Area residents and ultimately failed to pass.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Blue Angels
Blue Angels
The United States Navy's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and is currently the oldest formal flying aerobatic team...
jet crashed during the final minutes of an air show at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort or MCAS Beaufort is a United States Marine Corps air base located three miles northwest of the central business district of Beaufort, a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States...
in Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
. The sole fatality was confirmed and identified as the pilot, Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Kevin 'Kojak' Davis, by the Blue Angels organization spokesman in a news conference on 22 April 2007. The body of the pilot and the black box
Black box
A black box is a device, object, or system whose inner workings are unknown; only the input, transfer, and output are known characteristics.The term black box can also refer to:-In science and technology:*Black box theory, a philosophical theory...
were later recovered and moved to the local coroner's office.
There were eight injuries reported on the ground.
A report was released on 15 January 2008, ending the investigation by the Navy into the crash. The report states that when Commander Davis pulled back into a 6.8 G pull
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
, he lost control of the airplane due to the effect of greyout. The Report also states that the Blue Angels are not considering the use of G-suit
G-suit
A G-suit, or the more accurately named anti-G suit, is worn by aviators and astronauts who are subject to high levels of acceleration force . It is designed to prevent a black-out and G-LOC caused by the blood pooling in the lower part of the body when under acceleration, thus depriving the...
s in future performances, even though this would have saved the pilot in this crash.
Initial reporting
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
calls. The Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
identified the pilot as LCDR
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Kevin J. Davis of Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
, the opposing solo in the #6 jet.
Aftermath
The Blue Angels returned to their home base at Naval Air Station PensacolaNaval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, to discuss continuing their season. Sunday's air show went on as planned but, in a special tribute, the GEICO Skytypers flew the missing man formation
Missing man formation
The missing man formation is an aerial salute performed as part of a flyover of aircraft at a funeral or memorial event, typically in memory of a fallen pilot. The missing man formation is often called "the missing man flyby"...
in honor of the fallen Blue Angel.
Soon after LCDR Davis’ crash, the Blue Angels began performing a five-jet demonstration. The squadron called back former Blue Angel, LCDR Craig Olson, to fill the opposing solo position. He began performing after practicing with the team for a few weeks. LCDR Olson served with the squadron from 2003 through 2005 during which time he flew both solo positions. Navy's Judge Advocate General Manual investigation report recommends the Blue Angels considering using G-suits in demonstrations.
The fears stimulated by the crash have had some lingering effects. Since the 1980s the Blue Angels have performed as part of the festivities for San Francisco's annual Fleet Week
Fleet Week
Fleet Week is a United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard tradition in which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. Once the ships dock, the crews can enter the city and visit its tourist...
. However, the crash has caused some in the city of San Francisco to lose confidence in the practicality and safety of the Blue Angels' performance in an urban area. San Francisco Supervisor
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body within the government of the City and County of San Francisco, California, United States.-Government and politics:...
Chris Daly
Chris Daly
Chris Daly is a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He represented District 6, on which he served from 2000 to 2010...
brought a resolution up to San Francisco's board of supervisors in an effort to ban the Angels' performance. The resolution sparked outrage among many Bay Area residents and ultimately failed to pass.