Skyviper 1,101 Posted August 27, 2014 DEERFIELD, Va. (AP) — An Air Force jet based in Massachusetts crashed in the mountains of western Virginia on Wednesday, shaking the ground and frightening residents, and officials said the pilot's status was unknown. No injuries were reported on the ground, but authorities were still trying to reach the crash site — located through its heavy smoke coming from a mountainside — on Wednesday. The pilot of the single-seat F-15C was with the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard in Westfield, spokesman Maj. Matthew Mutti said. The jet was on a standard training exercise with no munition onboard, Mutti said. He didn't say where it was headed or release the pilot's name. Military officials in Washington told local authorities in Augusta County that they had lost communication with a jet, according to Augusta County dispatcher Becky Coynter. She said witnesses reported an explosion-like noise just before 9 a.m. "It's the loudest noise I've ever heard," 63-year-old Rebecca Shinaberry, who lives on a farm about two miles away, told The Associated Press. "(It) just shook the ground, and from my house we could just see a big plume of smoke." Deerfield is about 135 miles northwest of Richmond.F-15s are maneuverable tactical fighters that can reach speeds up to 1,875 mph, according to the Air Force website. The F-15C Eagle entered the Air Force inventory in 1979 and costs nearly $30 million, the website says. This is still hot off the press so the story may change as the day goes on. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Spectre8750 167 Posted August 27, 2014 Hope the Pilots ok. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAKO69 186 Posted August 27, 2014 That squadron was based at Otis Air Guard Base, now at Barnes Air Guard Base. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Dave 2,322 Posted August 27, 2014 Still no word on the pilot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAKO69 186 Posted August 27, 2014 Maybe he's just strung up in a tree waiting to get found, I hope. Its what's sucks about fast jets, things happen fast good or bad. Is there a skin for the 104th? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted August 28, 2014 That would be good to hear as long as they find him in time. To survive the crash and ejection only to die of exposure in a tree canopy is hardly a better situation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nesher 628 Posted August 28, 2014 (edited) any word on the pilot? hope he is okay! Edited August 28, 2014 by Nesher Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAKO69 186 Posted August 29, 2014 Reports say he died in the crash. http://www.whdh.com/story/26399459/military-pilot-was-killed-in-virginia-f-15-crash http://combatace.com/topic/83720-f-15-crash-pilot-was-killed/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
