Fire on the flight deck USS Nimitz?

Question

Does anyone think it is about time for the military to release the recording of the 1981 EA6B Prowler crash on the USS Nimitz? I have a still photo of the fire, but all other flightdeck fires have been extensivley viewed in navy basic training in fire fighting school in The "triall by fire" video they make us watch. We have seen many times the Fires on the USS Forrestal and other Cariers why does the navy keep the Nimitz crash classified. They point thier fingers at the deckhands who died as a result of the crash 14 died and 44 injured, and blamed marijuana use on the entire cause when it was Pilot error that caused the crash. I was on deck when it happened and recieved a commendation for my actions. I would just like to see a video of this. It's been 27 years and you would think they would add this recording of the crash and ensuing fire fighting techniques to the Navy fire fighting training films

john w lo l iread that absurd story that it was a "death ray" from outer space online that caused the jet to crash, also read some "urban legend" myths that the pilots were over medicated with cold medicine, beacuse it happened at the last hour of the Operation Readiness Evaluation/ ORE and we had been flying for 72 hours staright. The plane had two previous wave offs as he couldn't keep in line for a landing after a 3rd wave off they would have directed the plane to land ashore as we were only 60 miles off the coast of jacksonville, he tried to abort the 3rd atemp but couldn't or wouldn't throttle up and just go to shore .. it would have looked bad on his record

to Drea.. every single launch and recovery , night or day is always on tape and is recorded. I know its recorded as I have a still photograph of it at www.kurtisvieth.com/flightdeckfire.html this still photo is from the same"video" that they tape "every single take off and landing".... that same camera even runs during non flight times

Answer 1

Since you were active you know why. Esp if it was pilot error. THe Forrestal fire changed Navy operational procedure significantly and the lessons learned completely changed the Navy. The military tends to cover up the more moronic events that occured.

Answer 2

I was there that tragic night and this is an eye witness account. I was an EM3 ( electrician's mate Petty Officer 3rd class ) on the Nimitz from 1980 to 81. An EA-6B Prowler ( used to jam enemy radar and radio coms. ) piloted by a Marine Officer, crashed onto the flight deck killing 14 young men. The final accident report indicated that the pilot had taken over the counter cold meds without notifying the flight doc. This is a serious violation of Navy regulations and would have grounded him that night. We were at the end of the largest naval combat exercises conducted by the US at that time and EVERYONE was exhausted! While conducting night time flight ops the MARINE OFFICER PILOT crashed into the flight deck, skidding to the starboard (right) side clipping three A-7 corsairs (old ugly *** single engine jet) which caused his aircraft to veer to port (left) where there were three Grummen F-14 fighter jets (baddest *** jet in the navy at the time) armed with AIM-9 sidewinder and AIM-7 sparrow air to air missiles being refueled at the front of the port side flight deck that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The whole front of the flight deck exploded in a ball of flame so it was hard to see exactly what happened but we knew it was bad. They called for general quarters fire on the flight deck and the flight deck fire fighting teams sprang into action doing an exceptional job of putting the fire out in under 30 min. Some of the hoses were directed at the missiles to cool them down, which is exactly how they were trained to do, so they would not cook off (explode due to excessive heat) and they thought it was safe to go in and start the clean up but no one saw what was about to happen next. One or more of the missiles had dropped to the flight deck and were covered by debris and the heat from the 4 inch thick steel deck caused a phenomenon called a slow cook off of one of the missile warheads. This a very rare, and preventable, occurrence. The ensuing explosion (there was more than one explosion though I can't say how many warheads were involved) killed at least two of the flight deck crew and reignited the fire. It took over an hour to put the fire out and clear the debris from the flight deck. At daylight we could see the extent of the damage caused by the fire and exploding warheads. I saw what looked to be about a 6 inch deep by 12 inch round depression in the 4 inch thick flight deck where one of the warheads had exploded. That might not sound like much, but you have to remember those warheads were designed to take out a jet aircraft not punch a hole in 4 inch thick steel plate. Now you might be thinking things couldn't get much worse then losing 14 friends, brothers, fathers, sons, husbands but it did. In the days after the accident the Navy leaked to the press that some of the crew members remains had tested positive for marijuana. Now you might ask yourself why would the Navy dishonor the men who gave there life defending there country,ship and there shipmates. Well I'll tell you. It has long been the tradition of the Navy brass to protect the Navy br(***). They feel that it is better to disparage the enlisted ranks than to tarnish the reputation of a single Commissioned Officer. It is important to understand that the OFFICER/PILOT extreme disregard of Navy regulations by taking an over the counter cold medicine had considerably more effect on the outcome of this tragic accident than anything the flight deck crew was up to. He crashed his aircraft that night and flung the wreckage down the flight deck at 140 miles per hour causing the loss of 14 lives. I don't care what kind of drugs your on you were dead the moment he hit the flight deck. I can only imagine the devastation the parents, wives, brothers and sisters of those men experienced by not only losing there loved ones but then having there names dragged through the mud by the U.S. Navy command just to protect the reputation of a single officer. That is the real tragedy of that night.

Answer 3

I was the primary nozzleman on the flt deck. As a black shoe I had to drag my hose team up from the catwalk just forward of the LSO platform. I was there the entire time. beheaded corpse in the tractor, kid on fire screaming trapped under a wing and the sidewinder next to him exploded killing the C&S team, melting Phoenix warheads, much death and destruction. Afterward, because of our performance and because I'd already been relieved as a primary nozzleman because I was transferring and didn't have to suit up (but I was the most knowledgeable nozzleman so I did anyway) I was told I'd get a medal for valor, but I PCS transferred two days later upon return to Norfolk, so out of sight out of mind. I'm glad some of you got medals/commendations though. You deserved it. I tried to upload a picture of me suited up but I keep getting a site error msg.

Answer 4

Who got you the commendation? I was on the flight deck and fought that fire for hours from the nozzel of salt water team one, after the first 4 teams were knocked out. I don't remember the commendation at all.

Answer 5

Thank you for your service and I am glad you received a commendation for your actions that day.

But if you were reaaly in the navy you should already know that the military has its own reasons when it keeps something a secret. After all this time, it may be a secret just because it always has been a secret.

I'd advise you just to let it go.

Answer 6

The first question you have to ask yourself is, 'How and why do the spooks declare anything classified?' If it were up to them, everything would be 'Need to Know' and nobody would need to know! I would guess that its probably the aircraft type that classified it: electronic countermeasures are top secret and above. Hell, a normal person can't even look at stuff like that with out their aluminum foil hat firmly in place....death rays from space, dude!lol;)

Answer 7

people say it was not captured on tape but it was the plat camrea filmed the intier crash they just dont whant to release it becuse the pilot on over the counter medication.

Answer 8

I looked up the incident on wikipedia... they don't seem to be hiding anything about it, but how are you aure that the event was even captured on video???

Answer 9

there is a reason for it, whether you agree or not. you don't need to know everything, somethings are kept from us accept it and move on it has been 27 year after all.

Answer 10

I was there. anyone who serves on a carrier knows that every landing and launch is filmed.