Last February, a Navy jet practicing at Naval Air Station North Island crashed into San Diego Bay and two crewmembers ejected from the plane due to human error, according to a new report from the Navy.
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, accident investigators ruled out mechanical failure. They were unable to pinpoint an exact cause, but concluded that human error was responsible for the crash, and listed several contributing factors. Among them: The aircraft was operating on software that was unfamiliar to the pilot and crewmember; conditions on the runway were less than ideal as the plane touched down; and a problem occurred with the jet’s fuel transfer during the exercise.
Investigators were challenged by total destruction of the aircraft, according to the report. However, they concluded, human error was compounded by a ”confluence of factors, including severe weather, poor crew management and a lack of proficiency with the recently updated H18 software.”
The jet, an EA-18G Growler, was based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington and was conducting a joint training exercise in Coronado. It went down at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 12 during a “go-around” maneuver, which is when the plane lands but then immediately takes off without stopping.
The Growler had taken off from North Island when it crashed into the bay between Kellogg Beach and the tip of Shelter Island.
Naval Air Forces public affairs officer, Beth Teach, confirmed last March that the jet had already taken off and was attempting the go-around when the pilots safely ejected just seconds before the crash.
