String of Mistakes Led to Deadly Navy Jet Crash in San Diego, Military Officials Admit

The December 2008 crash of a U.S. Navy jet into a San Diego suburb, which killed four people on the ground, could have been avoided if military officials had followed emergency rules for such events or grounded the jet when mechanics noticed a fuel problem, military investigators admit.

The crash was also partly blamed on the actions of the pilot, who repeatedly passed on offers to land the crippled jet at a military air station with an approach over the Pacific Ocean, instead of his home base located amid crowded suburban neighborhoods.

Navy officials investigating the accident originally defended the pilot’s decision to attempt a return to his home base, but after completing their investigation, they called landing at the alternate runway at North Island Naval Air Station “the prudent decision,” but said “that decision was never made.” Landing at North Island would have allowed the plane to remain over water until just before touching down.

The pilot was forced to ditch the jet a few miles from the runway at Miramar Naval Air Station and into the community of University City, hitting a home and killing a woman, her two young daughters, and her mother.

Mechanics Knew of Fuel Problems

According to Navy investigators, military mechanics had detected problems with the plane’s fuel transfer system before, but allowed the jet to remain flying. The plane’s two engines failed as the jet returned to base from an aircraft carrier off the coast of San Diego, where the pilot was practicing maneuvers. Military officials said fuel to the engines was cut off, causing both engines to shut down.

Navy mechanics noted the jet’s faulty fuel-transfer system in July 2008 but the plane remained in service for 146 more sorties without repairs being made, records show. After the accident, all Navy F/A-18s were grounded so the fuel-transfer systems could be inspected and any necessary repairs were made.

Military Officials Reprimanded for Accident

No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the tragedy, but several high-ranking Navy officials have been removed from duty as a result of their handling of the incident. Four officers from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 – the squadron commander, squadron operations officer, standardization officer and maintenance officer – were relieved of their duties, a move which essentially ends their military careers.

Eight other Marines and one sailor also have been reprimanded, and the pilot has been grounded while officials review his flight status.

The pilot reportedly failed to open his safety checklist during the doomed flight and instead relied on directions from air-traffic controllers at his base, who did not have full knowledge of the situation, investigators said.

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