MARCH 4, 2009 – It has been determined that the deadly military jet crash in University City could have been avoided if proper procedures were followed. On December 8, 2008, Lt. Neubauer experienced engine trouble in his F/A-18D Hornet shortly after taking off, and failed to consult his safety checklist, as is procedure. Instead, he shut down his right engine, but that did not solve the fuel problem. An air traffic controller twice offered to direct the aircraft to a runway at North Island Naval Air Station, which would follow the emergency landing procedures and keep the jet over water until landing. However, Lt. Neubauer responded that he was going to attempt to land at Miramar instead. He asked the controller to direct him to the runway there, using a rarely-used route over La Jolla and University City. Since his right engine was disabled, he made a left turn, wasting time and fuel. As he approached the runway and prepared for landing, Lt. Neubauer lost his second engine due to the fuel problem. The jet’s electrical system then failed completely approximately 3 miles away from the runway. He tried to aim the aircraft toward a canyon, but eventually ejected himself. The jet then crashed on Cather Avenue, damaging five homes and killing four people. The victims were 36-year-old Youngmi Lee, her two daughters, 2-month-old Rachel and 15-month-old Grace, and her mother, Seokim Kim, 60.
Marine officials have now publicly stated that landing at North Island would have been the correct action for Lt. Neubauer to take. He has been prohibited from flying while the incident is under review. Four other Marines have been relieved of their duties, and nine others, including one sailor, have been reprimanded. Furthermore, it has now been discovered that mechanics called attention to the jet’s flawed fuel system last July, five months before the fatal crash. However, Marine pilots continued to fly 166 more hours without repairing the issue. Lt. Neubauer was also aware of the jet’s problem. Since the December accident, the Marine Corps has grounded 40 of the aircraft.
$147,000 has been disbursed to 11 families affected by the crash so far. The husband of victim Youngmi Lee has hired an attorney. Residents who live in the area of the crash have formed a group called Citizens Advocating Safe Aviation to persuade the Marines to limit flights over University City.
Find more like this: Aviation Accidents