Here's Why the F/A-18 Hornet Crashed at the '88 El Toro Airshow
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2024
- Military aviation mishap investigator and former Canadian Air Force pilot Keith "Espo" Esplen joins Mooch to go in depth on what caused Col. Jerry "Kamikaze" Cadick, USMC to crash his Hornet into the runway during the El Toro air show in April of 1988.
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In January 1980 I saw Bob Hoover, one of the greatest flight demonstration pilots of all time, perform at an airshow in Panama City, Florida. It was his amazing Rockwell Shrike Commander routine that he had done hundreds of times. The routine started straight and level at 10,000 feet right above airshow center where he shut down and feathered both engines to start a long series of altitude losing loops, two very low passes down the runway with 8-point aileron rolls, both passes followed by a wingover, and finally a dead stick landing with enough energy to taxi to a point directly centered in front of the spectator crowd, lowering the airstair while still rolling, walking briskly ahead of the slowly rolling Shrike, taking position directly in front with his back to it and having the nose just nudge him as it coasted to a stop. Now that's what I call "potential energy management"!
That day when Hoover started at 10,000 feet, he appeared to complete the first loop flawlessly, but unexpectedly he unfeathered and restarted both engines and climbed back up to his entry altitude and started over, followed by the perfect performance of the entire show that I have described above. Obvious to me as an experienced fighter pilot, was that in his first attempt, he had failed to achieve one of his self imposed airspeed and/or altitude "gates" and ignoring his legendary ego, had started over again. That was the mark of a true professional!
Chuck Yeagers auto biography has interesting Bob Hoover details.
I watched that same demo at the Mather air show as a kid and it was the most incredible feat I’d ever seen accomplished in a civilian aircraft.
There's a reason why Hoover and Yeager died in their sleep as very old men when many of their friends got their pictures on the wall at Pancho's.
Hoover had an ingrained, organic connection to the aircraft. The guy was completely dialed into energy state and every parameter affecting the flight. The man was born to fly, truly.
First time I saw Hoover fly he was flying an f-100 George AFB. Next time he was flying his own canary yellow P-51. The story was that he kept popping rivets on the F-100 with his maneuvers so they - put a stop to that. (True/False??) Anyway one year he cancelled at the last minute. We found out that the reason was - he lost his prop at show earlier that day and couldn't make it from a show in Arizona to George AFB
As Clint says, “ A man’s got to know his limitations “ great run down Ward.
Read my mind for sure. Good call.
Obviously kamikaze is not equal to Dirty Harry!
Nature of the beast..egos drive us but safety needs to have the last word
Colonel, your ego is counting checks your body can’t cash. What’s it with you anyway? Sound familiar 😅
And he replies, “Just wanna serve my country sir!”
Ward & all of us should be talking about that 2015 crash instead. That pilot survived, killed 11, was acquitted on all charges, and applied for reinstatement of his pilot license last year.
The inquiry was supposed to take place in 2020, 5 years later, got "delayed again due to the pandemic".. but that pilot should have gone to prison.. and the government should have had to pay all the spectators families. 11 dead, 16 injured.
Instead he walked away scott-free and the government did as well as far as liability was concerned.
Classic corruption.
Wow, Ward. I witnessed this very accident. My thoughts during that demonstration was just how powerful the Hornet’s thrust is to overcome what surely looked like a STALL in the making. What also surprised me was “how did it not explode on impact.” That dude was so lucky as was the audience as to not witness a horrific crash.
I was there too... I remember Bob Hoover went up not too long after the accident and performed.
Also was there, I thought he was performing an immllman until he pitched downward and I said out loud, "He's to low!" ...
If you watch other videos of this crash on YT and see the pirate flag in the audience, that's my group of people ...
Interesting to hear about the official findings of the incident ...
Thanks Ward ...
@@greggirons67 VMGR-352 Raiders? I checked in a few months later.
I was also there. It was a stunning screw up.
Any explanation why he didn't eject ??
I was in VFA-151 also a Navy F-18 Squadron. I was introduced to Colonel Jerry Cadick years ago at an event and found him to be a very nice and cordial man. This was a few years after his crash, so by then, he was by then completely recovered, at least as much a could be expected... When speaking with him I got no indication that he attributed the accident to anything other than his own error(s) in judgement, which is a credit to his character. Funny story he told me though, was his doctor encouraged him take up cycling as a good rehab tool, which he did indeed do, and as time went on, he said he really got into it. As events transpired, he advanced in riding to the point where cycling shoes with clips were to be worn. Well, the first time he tried these he got to an intersection where he had to stop. He had forgotten about rotating your foot to release your foot to release and he immediately fell and broke the one good arm that was not broken in the accident... So much for that idea......
The more I hear about this "Kamikaze" fella --- the more I think he's a total klutz!
Got a good laugh out of that story. Thanks. 😊
Did exactly the same thing with my new racing bike and clip pedal shoes, but without the flying experience or bone breakage.
He doesn’t sound like the kind of guy that should be flying anything. I’m not trying to be mean. But you should know how to use the equipment thoroughly before going out in traffic
lol. I mastered clipless when I was like 14 years old.
The moral of the story seems to be to keep your ego in check.
But not when you are too low n slow!..
Don't let "your ego write checks your body can't cash" as a famous movie quote would say.
Laws of physics apply to everyone. A former fellow Marine was stationed at El Toro and was a witness of the event, that arresting gear hit by the jet was part of our MOS. RIP and Semper Fi!
Or as I like to tell people, don't be a jackass
Just like "Soup" Campbell...
Being a good leader does not mean you have to be the best. A good leader knows who is the best, and picks the best for the task at hand.
Happens even to the best trained pilots as well. Remember the Thunderbirds Mt Home crash. Simply an incorrect altitude setting. The worst case of "cockiness" is probably the B-52 crash during a demo flight practice. Some people would not even fly with that pilot. That was a case of a known high ranking hotshot pilot no one was willing to put a harness on.
The guy in charge of "putting the harness on him" was flying right seat and died when he crashed the aircraft.
Yes, it even happens to the best, yet when the scheduled demo pilot told others there, "Watch this; he always screws this up," I'm thinkin' he wasn't even close to being the best.
@@ZboeC5 Which is why it's been posited that the crash was deliberate. He had been told prior to the flight that if it was not 100% to the letter of the book and no more, he was done, plain and simple.
More than some, iirc most of his crew that day had to be ordered to fly with him. It was common knowledge he was going to crash and burn, and soon. One of the biggest failures in military leadership since vietnam.
So was this. I was crash crew at MCAS EL TORO that day, and we knew before the crash that "The Wing CO" had bumped the pilot designated for the Air Show. Lots of arrogant assholes in the Marines. Which is really good in combat. But this is the price you pay.
Reminds me of B-52 pilot Lieutenant Colonel Arthur "Bud" Holland. The guy was notorious for putting his aircraft and crews in needless dangers to perform stunts and shot off. His command refused to do anything about it. It ended when Holland's B-52 crashed at Fairchild AFB, killing all on board.
I was on I-90 east bound and saw the results from a distance. I knew what it was having seen a B-52 crash at March AFB a few years before… sad indeed.
Yep, Holland was a giant douche rocket. Sad the AF never took the lessons from this to its core. Nothing has changed 😥
I remember that incident. Only one officer received a punishment for the dereliction of duty.
Or the C-17 crash at Elmendorf
Well said Charles. If you (not you) want to go hotshot, fine, but don't take others with you and those on the ground either.
"Let not thy air speed fall lest the ground rise up to smite thee." Words to live by! Great job as always, Commander! I miss the El Toro air show. What a sight to behold!
I was stationed at MCAS El Toro in 1993. Marines would still refer to this event as a warning against overestimated capabilities. It is too bad this happened, but as usual, we Marines use whatever we can to be better. This unfortunate event actually caused an increase in leadership skills and professionalism skills, no matter the MOS.
I'm always impressed by the quality of Mooch's guests.
That little kitty was being ignored during the interview LOL
I was stationed at El Toro. I was in a F/A-18 Marine Squadron and meet Col. Cadick many times. I personally help “strap” him in the seat several times. When the accident happened my unit had just arrived in S. Korea. Nobody was surprised when we heard what had happened. Six months later, I returned to El Toro to find Vmfa-323’s Hornet in our hangar (the aircraft involved with the accident). It was an absolute wreck. The cockpit defies explanation. While I didn’t necessarily enjoy his company or respect him, I was sad to see what had happened to him. His personality changed post accident greatly. He was humble and kind post accident. I’m sure others that served with and under him will tell stories that I will leave to them.
As a jet demo pilot for a western air force, i fly with QFE settings so whatever i read in the HUD is actually Above Ground Level... and i have certain altitude and speed combinations for any over the top maneuver i will not deviate towards a "too low / behind" the power curve.
Ego / Ranks come off in a fighter world... Those Training Rules are written in blood..
cheers mate.
Some friends joined the ranks of senior fighter pilots (flying as contractors) and other roles in uniform, and they say you have to self evaluate and accept feedback and keep up your quals or you ain't going to stay current and qual'd. Just because you got thousands of hours, doesn't mean you won't make a mistake and buy the farm... It happens. Astronauts have crashed perfectly good aircraft by being overconfident and/or not managing risks like weather.
I vividly remember this crash. I was 14yo. We were in stop and go traffic trying to park. (Whole family was in the van). We watched the jet disappear behind a row of trees from our vantage point at a really weird angle. It didn’t look right at all. Then the giant fire ball shortly after followed by the sound. I remember screaming “That jet just crashed.” And my dad said no, and that it was part of the show. He changed his tune once we got into the show and found out what happened. The next day we read in the paper the pilot was in “Super Critical Condition”, and with my dad being a paramedic he explained that meant the pilot was really f’d up.
Haven’t watched the video yet. Witnessed this crash as well. Didn’t the pilot smash his face into the stick?
@@RangerMcFriendly I can’t remember. Until Mooch said he did in the video
@@RangerMcFriendly "messed his face up real bad" --- sounds like the stick did a real number on his face
@@danam0228not that he f'ed up as in made a mistake, but he was f'ed up as in he's as close to being un alive as you can be but still be alive.
At least he wasn't in super duper extra gnarly wicked awful critical condtion. THAT would be very bad indeed.
I was at that air show in El Toro and as he headed down I said to the guys I was with he's too low. It was obvious he wasn't going to make it. This is the first time I hear the full story, Thanks.
I learned two lessons a long time ago from my first flight instructor: Leave your problems and your ego on the ground.
Sometimes that might mean grounding yourself.. 😀
The same can be said of motorcycle riding. In a lot of circumstances, "Leave your problems and your ego..," is great advice for everyone.
Wise words indeed
Mooch, I was the brand new F-14 Demo RIO at VF-124 that same year. I had trained with Randy Clark, former Blue Angel, and future VF-31 CO , when they came to the west coast. The lessons from this accident were very profound for me, asI had several opportunities to be put into practice, flying the air shows over the next couple of years. Thanks for putting this out there. Jeff “Kato” McCampbell sends
Thanks, Kato. Hope you’re well.
A 75 G crash wow.
El Toro is a blast from the past that have not though of in decades.
My first airshow was at El Toro in the 70's and my Dad was an Air Traffic Controller at El Toro when he served in the Marines in the 60's.... many fond memories of that place.
I was another one of those people who was there
we were on the flight / exhibit line watching the performances as we walked. without high tech demo tools, the best way I have always tried to describe it was that he was not doing a loop, but actually a square. if I remember correctly, he did it twice. and the second time I remember him hitting the top part of the square lower than the first
from our angle we were about 150 yards behind the stands. when he was coming down, it looked like he was starting the bottom turn right about the height of the stands. I can picture my self saying 'oh noes' and feeling the thump on ground. but I always remember the aircraft going away from the stands as if it bounced, and turned 90 degrees away. I now realize this memory was wrong and I probably saw the end of his slide as he pivoted
thanks for your videos, Ward. always nice to see journalism from actual subject experts
I also remember it looking like a square loop.
You should do a video on the time an A-4 was stolen for a joyride at El Toro
Go on… lol. You have picqued my interest!
I thought it was an F18....
The “ History Guy “ has an episode about the A-4 joy ride.
It was a lance corporal who was an enlisted maintainer. He was taking flying lessons and wanted to be a Marine pilot, but for some reason he was denied. So he decided to fly a Skyhawk one time while he still had the chance.
That was in 1984. 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Howard Foote. An amazing story...
DUUUUUUUUDE!!! My Dad was Warrant Officer Army Aviator working as a class A accident investigator at the US Army Aviation Safety Center. He would supply me with Approach magazines and I would read them cover to cover many times each issue. I even submitted a story of my own about a near miss involving me in a Cessna 150 and two T2C Buckeyes near Pensacola. Never heard back from them. So cool to find out you were involved in that awesome publication!
Well, pretty spot on review. I was on the accident board. He crashed our (VMFA-323) jet. The squadron had just been awarded a 30,000 hour accident free award. I was on the ramp watching having just flown the F/A-18 “bombing and refueling” demo. Bad day.
What's up SNAKE? ... 323 P/L 92-94
I was at the El Toro Airshow in 1993 and witnessed a similar crash of an F-86. I was a current Army UH-1H helo pilot at Los Alamitos. Used to read every issue of Approach that was at our flight ops. Earlier in my career I was a Cobra SIP teaching other qualified Cobra pilots to become instructors. I gave up that designation when I was a senior captain because it was too difficult to do my other jobs and maintain SIP-level proficiency.
"Sabre Dance"
I was there too.
I was wintessed that one too. Horrific crash.
The El Toro airshow was the best. I remember the attack demo they performed. They had C-130's, Cobras, Hueys, OA-4M, RF-4Bs, A-6s, F-18s, OV-10s. Amazing lineup. I think the crash happened on the Sunday, I went to the Saturday show.
It was called the MAGTAF demo, it was excellent.
You forgot the AV-8b, performed every time I went to the show.
What kind of thunder when that phalanx went overhead?
We were at the El Toro show in either '87 or '88 or both, but I missed this incident. The F/A-18 demo was well-executed when I saw it there. We usually went to China Lake NWTC as well most years, Miramar, but never missed Edwards AFB (home station).
@@arthurcaesar2200 MAGTAF is still performed at MCAS Miramar each year.
I used to love reading Approach when ever I had watch in my squadron.
I was there at the airshow just behind the bleachers and my wife asked if the explosion was part of the show and I said no, that plane just crashed into the ground. The Blue Angels demo was cancelled at first but they ended up doing their show. I watched it from the balcony in our base housing in Tustin . Keep up the great videos sir!
It is always interesting to hear an expert analyse how things go wrong, as they can give insight into details that other commentators miss. As a Canadian, it is nice to see an RCAF pilot on your program giving the numbers about how things went wrong, and how they could have been avoided....
I was in the squadron right next door and saw the jet sitting there after the crash on a flatbed. I also saw the photos of the cockpit after the accident thanks to a friend that had access to them. Crazy stuff. And, I watched the guy a few years later crash the F-86. I heard most of the stuff you mentioned here way back in the 90's. Marine Corps!
There was also a crash of an F-86 at El Toro as described. I was there in both incidents. The F-86 pilot wasn’t as fortunate, sadly.@@JBS2018
Ward,
I was at the camera shop when the VCR of the F18 was brought in. The housing was bent up and we were asked to make an attempt at removing the tape. We tried for a couple of hours. We figured out the housing would need to be cut up so we sent the assembly back to HQ.
I was with H&MS 11/VMFP-3 at the time working I level maintenance on the recon camera systems.
We always wondered what the tape would have shown...
Thanks for that info; it helps my engineer brain to appreciate the amount of energy absorbed by the pilot, airframe & everything in that cockpit.
The single hardest thing i have ever done was realize that something i LOVED to do had slipped from my grasp, leaving me a hollow shell. Time is the ultimate thief and 73 isn’t for kids, just old men. Thanks for the report!👍👍🙂
Hello darkness my old friend...
I stood up too fast again...
71, eyes going south, could be fixed, but when I found myself reaching for the wrong thing in the kitchen too often, I saw the perfect set-up for grabbing the gear handle when I go to raise the flaps clearing the runway. I think we're on the same page.
It's hard to see older guys who used to be jet pilots and surgeons --- they look really sad that all their great skills are gone ☹
@@fredwerza3478 the skills are not totally forgotten but the crispness isn’t there any more, like that soggy carrot in your salad🙂
@@R760-E2 Dunno, I'm 74.5 and still flying.
Sounds like he's the Marine Corp's Bud Holland, or Bud Holland was the Air Force's Col Kadick.
With a call sign like "Kamikaze" --- bad things were bound to happen with this dude
I dare say LtCol Bud Holland was way worse, Apparently LtCol Holland disobeyed limits/instructions/orders on previous flights, including demo flights and got away with it, or had little repercussions
My understanding was Col. Kadick didn't disobey orders, or fly prohibited maneuvers during airshow practice, and get away with it.
Granted, It was still poor form to fly a demo with drastically insufficient currency and training time, but still not the same level as flying a large bomber 50ft off a ridge (hot dogging!) and not on an approved low-level ridge-crossing route either.
And Lt Col Holland took his entire crew and himself into a fatal maneuver during his airshow practice.
I was at that airshow I remember the colonel making the loop. And i thought wow he’s awful low. Yep he was !!!
Yep, I was there too, and before the split-S, I told my girlfriend “wow! That is low and it does sound right!” And I was in shock when then he conducted the split-S.
I was at that airshow and witnessed the event. It was amazing that he lived and that the aircraft did not come apart. I realized that as soon as he was inverted that he was too low and slow to recover.
I can almost hear one of Grandpa Pettibone's "Dag'nabits!".
Ward, thanks again! Excellent breakdown!
The fact that this wasn’t a fatal mishap, speaks volumes about the safety systems of the F/A-18.
There really aren't safety systems to counter crashing.
Except that as Navy/carrier plane Hornet certainly has extra strength compared to Air Force planes just to survive carrier landings intact.
Ego kills.
Ego & power kills harder.
Extraordinary that he survived at all.
The professional tone and measured commentary is a master class.
I grew up watching Bob Hoover fly most years at Dupage Airport near St. Charles Illinois. His yellow mustang is something I’ll never forget.
6:55 Damn! That injury list is extensive. I would have never guessed he was hurt that bad. That is scary!
Was assigned to NZJ tower for a couple tours during the 1970s. El Toro Air Station had more than a fair share of Class A mishaps over the years. Col.Cadick was but one of many. RIP.
I was there and witnessed this!
I was a fresh/sophomore in high school near Los Alamitos Reserve/ National Guard Base. I didn't go to the air show but I heard about it on TV. Eventually, I did get a chance to go several years later before it was closed down. Great, blast from the past, Intel, Mooch. Appreciated. ⚓🦅🇺🇸
If the officer three ranks above you knows what he's doing, great. If he doesn't know what he's doing.... He's still three ranks above you.
Yeah that's understandable and a lot of cases may be in combat or something but not at an airshow configuration first of all and second of all the pilot put his self in unnecessary risk if he would have just done the split that's maneuver he would have got to at least 3,000 ft but 2100 ft at 80 knots no way
@@No_ReGretzky99I may be wrong, if I am apologies, but it sounds like you have never been in military service….
@@parrot849 doesn't matter have a blessed day not here to argue with anyone lol 🤣
RIP Colonel. I'm glad we can discuss things like this so openly. Does anyone know what he had to say about his mishap?
As a young Ensign in 1983, it was an honor and privilege to report directly to and fly with Col Cadick at VFA-125.
Omg I was at this show! El Toro in my opinion was the BEST air show I’ve ever attended, I prolly watched a dozen shows here over the years and all the way up to SADLY the last show around 1996 or 97. El Toro air shows drew a very large crowd and was action packed.
Excellent upload, thank you.
I was familiar with this mishap and even remember seeing it on the news back in the day. What I didn't know is everything you provided in this episode. In other words, all I knew was what I saw. Thanks again. 🎉🎉
I was there. 15 years old. Standing against the orange mesh fencing. I had a 35mm camera and was taking photos tracking him through my camera. I remember following him up through the Immelmann and as he dove, I was tunnel visioned on him through the lens but remember feeling/thinking “wow my lens is getting close to horizontal and he’s not finished yet”, then watched the hard pull and the tail strike and then the Hornet slamming into the ground. I remember everyone was like “did that really just happen?”
That was always a great air show, with the MAGTF demo and the Angels. Though I remember when it went from say 50,000 people a day in the late 80s and then in 1991 the units were just back from Desert Storm and the crowds swelled from 50K to 3-4 times that easy. It was a total zoo, but in a good way. Many of the strike aircraft with their “kills” painted on the sides. Big win for Navy/USMC PR
I think the engineers who designed the Hornet need some love building such a cockstrong airframe.
Chilling! I remember that a civilian F-86 mushed in at El Toro during a show, and an A-4 Blue Angel did the same at Miramar while doing aileron rolls. I'd love to hear about those incidents if you get time. Thanks for your hard work and insightful valuable information.
Damn, I really wasn't expecting this to end with his having survived. I mean the guy screwed up severely, no doubt about it, but I have to give some serious props (pun?) for being tough and determined enough to get back to the ability to fly again and move on with his life. RIP.
Excellent as always. Nice to see your number of subscribers consistently climbing which reinforces how good your episodes are. Thanks, Mooch.
The LA Times article from the early 90s details Cadick's recovery and he joked that he thought he'd have trouble getting on a commercial flight because of how much metal was in his body. The part that got me was realizing how much force it would have taken to cause the damage he suffered and how he looked afterwards. They had to replace part of his orbital bones with metal rings because his face was that smashed up. The surgeons managed to give him back his 20/20 vision after the reconstruction!
Excellent mishap review
Wow, I haven't seen anything about this crash in years. I was a kid growing up down the street from El Toro.... I remember this like it was yesterday. I was at the air show the day before this happened. Great debrief on this one Mooch.
Watching this video makes me very nostalgic. I was a Marine ARFF (crash crew) at El Toro from 1995 until they locked the gates in 1998. The place on the runway where Col. Cadick crashed was very visible from our "hotspot" position. Sometimes experience and routine work against you, and that's when you need an outside voice to get you back in the pipe.
I remember the crash, didn't remember the details other than a Marine aircraft at El Toro. Such a bad call by the Col - RIP.
It happened right in front of me, I was there at El Toro that day. I remember thinking, “odd, he’s very slow and low” as he pulled down.. ground crews took a long time before resuming the show. Thanks for filling in a lot of the gaps for me 35 years later! 👍
I was Col. Cadicks driver at the time. I was on the airfield straight out from my home squadrons hanger VMFP-3 by the aresting gear where he crashed. The video shot showing the side of the Hornet was shot by a fellow Marine standing next to me.
I saw this crash I was 19 years old living in the Orange County area. I also saw the F-86 crash that one was right in front of me I could feel the heat crashed exactly the same way.
I had a chance to fly with Jerry Caddick several years after that crash. We did some 1v1 mock air combat flights with two of Team America’s SIAI-Marchetti SF.260s. He was the instructor and I was his student. I found him to be fairly upfront and relatively humble (for a fighter pilot) about his errors during that flight. I like to think that after years of reflection and honest self-criticism, Jerry learned some important lessons about aviation safety…and life. One of which is to not give up on your passion for aviation just because you screwed the pooch. Learn from it and keep on doing what you love…and share that passion with others. 🇺🇸🫡
My dad and I went to a dinner/speak from the Col. in Tustin several years later on. Very interesting speech and a great evening with my dad
I was there that day and when he pulled it over the top, I knew he wasn't going to make it. It was the most surreal thing I had ever seen, only to be topped 5 years later at the El Toro air show when an F-86 )Saber Dancer) crashed, killing the pilot. Again, he rounded the bottom of a loop too low, hit the ground at a shallow angle, and the plane went sideways and started barrel rolling on the ground.
Why are these airshow pilots so poorly trained? Seems like needless deaths based on really bad decision making.
@@fredwerza3478 This F-18 pilot's demo experience was certainly in question. The F-86 was suppose to stage a mock dogfight with a MiG-15, but that pilot was sick, so the impression the announcer gave the crowd was that he was going to improvise a solo demo. I felt like he had enough altitude and airspeed at the top of the loop, he just misjudged the backside and didn't pull back enough. But again, I knew he wasn't going to make it when he was 3/4 of the way around.
I’ve been going to multiple airshows every year for the last 30 years, so glad I haven’t witnessed a crash! 😵💫
Great piece Team Mooch! Enjoyed hearing Espo's perspective on the mishap!
My dad and I went to the El Toro Air Show every year when I was a kid - we were there that day and saw the crash. I remember as soon as he went nose down hearing my dad say “Oh God, he’s not gonna make it.” It was terrifying to watch.
Always enjoy hearing the rest of the story from your perspective.
Another well done video Ward, many thanks to you and Espo. I had flown with KK many times and hated to see this mishap. He was lucky to survive, as you know.
Thanks, Keith! Hope you’re well!
Never served under you General, but everyone I knew who did bragged what a great CO you are. Semper Fi !
Many thanks Jason, sorry we missed serving in the same unit. Thank you for your service! Semper Fi!
Many thanks Ward, back at you!
Thank you for reviewing this mishap. I was at that airshow as a kid and still remember it to this day.
A fine contribution, Ward. SOP for Mooch.
I was acquainted with Col. Cadick via our Tailhook connections. A few years later I saw him at a litho signing in San Diego. I exclaimed, "My gosh, Jerry, you look terrific!"
His wife laughed. She explained that when the surgeons planned rebuilding Jerry's face (I think he retired the trophy for max survivable Gs) they wanted the best quality photo. It happened to be his promotion to major portrait...
Jerry departed the pattern in 2015.
Was 5 years old when this happened. Was sitting on top of my grandfather‘s RV and I saw this happen. I specifically remember my grandfather bringing me into the RV afterwards. My 5 year old brain thought it was part of the demonstration.
Thank you for this video, sir. Cause I was literally there and saw it in person
Thank you for revisiting this! I was in VMFAT-101 and the VMFA-323 (the squadron the Col. Cadick used the AC from) in 1990. I knew the PCs that launched Col Cadick. The 323 Powerline Marines were told the mishap was due to "slow to light afterburners" which cause the AC to loss airspeed. I hope they see this!
I witnessed this mishap. As he was performing it, I had a couple of immediate thoughts. They were that he was so low and so slow. He cut some great corners but it was no surprise when he hit the ground. You could see it coming. I knew he suffered spinal injuries but didn't realize how badly he had been hurt. The event just seemed to unfold in slow motion.
Thanx Mooch, awesome video sir, hope alls well take care…
Happened right in front of me. Never forget the crowd gasping when he pulled into the split-s, we all knew he was too low and too slow. Can't believe he survived and went on to fly with Sanders A/C at Chino and secured a spot with the three ship Siai Machetti "Team America" flight demo team. Went to lunch with Cadick many times while working with Sanders in the mid 90's. Never seemed to me that he was humbled by the incident, though he did slow down a bit. Thanks for the video, Mooch!
After he recovered from his multiple, very serious injuries that day, which my friend Mike Blackstone and I witnessed at MCAS El Toro (we were invited guests with two of our SF.260 aircraft from our company, Air Combat USA), and was "invited" to leave the service, Cadick applied to fly with us at Fullerton Airport. Mike turned him down, based on what we saw and learned about him afterwards. Hard to believe that Chuck or Brian hired him to fly at Team America in the same aircraft type that we were flying.
Excellent!!! I have been curious about this for years having worked at El Toro.
Approach was a great magazine. I had a subscription to it for several years after leaving active duty in 83.
I was there that day Ward. I posted a link to a video on UA-cam, but I think the comment was not allowed. In the video, just before Caddick goes vertical for the loop, he is informed that the show is running behind schedule. He asks if they want him to scrub the rest of the demo. He is told ….No, we are just letting you know. He then says there’s not much he can cut from the demo. He is then told again that they aren’t asking him to shorten the demo, they’re are just letting him know. In addition to all the relevant points you mentioned about Caddick’s actions and reputation, I cant help but wonder if he was also irked by the radio communications and perhaps let it distract him even more.
For what I understand, pilots are supposed to be “in front” of the airplane, not “behind it”. Anything that causes the pilot to pause his “mindset”, has to be evaluated, then proceed if safe
@@uwekonnigsstaddt524It would have been incredibly poor judgment on ATC's part to make such a communication in the middle of something as critical as low altitude maneuvering and poor judgement on his part not to exit the routine and get his brain back in gear and instead communicate in the maneuver. That time of flight should be considered sterile cockpit for all involved.
I checked into El Toro a few months later and heard about the crash. A few years later I was working G-4 for the airshow and watched an F-86 crash killing the pilot. The Blue Angels flew after that crash as well.
My friend was there for both crashes
Thunderbirds actually flew after that Sabre crash. '93 was their only appearance at El Toro.
@@chiefmoeThats right, it was the Thunderbirds! They flew a missing man formation after the crash.
thanks for the video Ward
This happened in late spring,when I was in high school. The guys who were in Civil Air Patrol and had been planning for a career in military aviation were theorizing about it.
Really only error in this video is that the maneuver he was attempting WAS called a square loop. It was not an Immelmann and a Split S. The pauses on each side where the sides of the square. BUT yes, he was too low and not enough airspeed at the top. And once he committed the nose straight down, he was done.
I watched another pilot attempt a square loop at NADC Johnsville, in 1966, I believe, pulled his wings off and did not survive.
I liked MCAS El Toro. Wish they hadn't shut it down.
Ward , thanks for this review of this mishap. I was there for this incident that El Toro. I lived next door in Lake Forest and the air show was a staple of ours every year and played a big part in influencing me to become an aviator. Great inside info on the crash and the behind d the scenes stuff you never got in the media about the why’s and wherefore … thanks 🙏
I was there with my Dad and son. My Dad was a retired Marine Colonel pilot. As Cadick pulled nose down I heard my Dad say " he just bought it"!
I've often wondered if the fact that the F-16 demo had earlier done a similar maneuver, that might have influenced Cadick's actions.
Mr. Carroll, have you covered the Marine pilot that hit the Gondolier in Italy back in the late 90's?
I remember that making the news. I don't remember if the path wasn't on his map, or he hadn't been briefed it was thete.
Off topic: Orange County should have kept the El Toro runways operational. It’s a much better airfield than John Wayne for noise abatement and field length. They could be flying international flights out of there. Now it’s basically useless real estate. They can’t clean it up enough to build anything on it.
I was there, no one wanted the airport option. Other considerations included a football stadium. It ultimately became the great park. I used to do astronomy demonstrations there. As a kid went to several airshows and saw the crasn
Lived in SoCal and was present at El Toro the day of the mishap. Also, read 'Approach' for years around that time. Flew out of El Toro on my way to Nam in March 1968. As, a replacement 'Grunt. Returning to El Toro in March 69. My son was approaching graduation from High School and would enter University of Arizona Naval ROTC a few years later. And, would get his 'Wings of Gold' in 2003. Thanks for the Memories. And great episode! Semper Fii!
It's 20 yrs since your son graduated. Is he retiring? Or has he left already?
Oh wow I remember going to this air show with my grandfather and best friend. I remember hearing radio chatter over the MP's radios. Then seeing the news footage that night of what happened. We were stuck in traffic trying to get a parking spot so we missed a good deal on the air show considering we were driving down from the Ontario/Pomona area to that base. Great post I love seeing and hearing your assessment of aviation news related articles.
Amazing how he was able to stay alive and recover without ejection. Speaks to the great safety engineering in the plane. Vertical has always been a known tale of caution for the Hornet due to weak energy addition rate. While Hornet is a great at slow speed and high alpha, vertical is actually where it lost on dogfights. A lot of drag and relatively underpowered, small engines which made it difficult to regain energy very quickly. As a result, the F-18 needed to have plenty of airspeed going into a vertical with enough altitude. Otherwise, it would bleed energy going up very quickly as it did in this case. In this case, you can see a wing stall when goes over the top where it keeps dropping on one side. There simply needs to be enough altitude to regain lost airspeed while screaming towards the ground and in order to bring the nose up. Double Immelman that actually requires a lot of raw thrust, is prohibited maneuver for the F-18 as per NATOPs for the same reason.
No idea what the bunt is
“He bunted the nose…”
I don’t understand this part either.
Basically, it is pushing the stick forward.
@@benhobe Slowing himself down even more? Or a sign he may be thinking of not going through with the rest of the maneuver?
He's unloading the airplane by pushing the stick forward in an attempt to gain energy (airspeed). When you bunt/unload the aircraft from its normal 1G state it accelerates faster. The Col knew he was slow over the top of this maneuver... he just didn't have enough "space" to recover.
@@keithesplen5300 I get it. Good explanation
I was at El Toro that day and remember this crash vividly. Thanks for this analysis which is the first time I have had a chance to understand what caused the crash. Thanks
I witnessed the crash, but was also one of the few civilians to videotape it. I converted the 8mm video to digital in 2009 and posted it on my original UA-cam channel, YouCanSaveTheMole. It's still there if anyone cares to view it from the spectator's angle (and no, it's not a monetized channel).
The USMC have lost another aircraft. This time a CH53 helicopter. This on the heels of losing an F35. Not a good look for the Corps. Get your shit together USMC.
When it comes to the CH53, it’s pretty early to be making such statements don’t you think? Could have been any one of a number of reasons completely beyond the control of the flight crew.
@@mako88sb If you are speaking towards me, I didn't blame the flight crew or any individual. I said losing two aircraft looked bad for the Corps as a whole. And it does.
@@justinwilliams2000 They make their flight plans with crayons, that's what all the Navy and Air Force geeks tell me.
Excellent video Mr Carroll! Nice to see Mr. Esplen as a former operator of our country's CF-18 fleet. The Hornet will be serving through 2032. I cant believe it.
Very interesting video Ward. Thanks for the post.
LOVE your site, Ward!
Fascinating story regarding naval aviation safety! I was very surprised Cadick survived his ordeal. Very, very lucky man.
Yup, I was stationed at El Toro working MALS-11/13. Watched him try so hard to pull out but knew it was too late. We watched the practice runs all week. He was lucky to survive.
I was also there at the time, with MALS-11 Avionics.