According to the U.S. Navy the circumstances around the F-5N crash are now under investigation
As reported by USNI News on Aug. 9, 2017 an F-5N Tiger II attached to Fighter Composite Squadron (VFC) 111 Sundowners crashed 20 nautical miles off the coast south east of Key West at about 12:38 p.m. EST while conducting training operations off the Florida coast.
The pilot, who didn’t suffer significant injuries, was quickly rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.
“The watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew to conduct a search,” said the U.S. Coast Guard in a statement. “The helicopter crew arrived on scene at 1:15 p.m., observed an emergency smoke signal and located the pilot in the water. The rescue crew hoisted the pilot from the water and brought him back to Lower Keys Medical Center in good condition.”
According to the U.S. Navy the circumstances around the crash are now under investigation.
As we have already explained the Sundowners of VFC-111, which are based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Florida, are tasked to provide Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) for all U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps fleet replacement squadrons.
Until the crash, the squadron operated 18 of the F-5s.
Photo credit: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Morales and U.S. Navy
Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com
