Bug Roach Accident Question

I have searched the net but have found very little. What are the details
surrounding his death?

Thanks,
Scott Seders

I have searched the net but have found very little. What are the details
surrounding his death?

IIRC, the old Escapac seat on his A-4 did not work...
_____________
José Herculano

D. Scott Seders wrote:
I have searched the net but have found very little. What are the details
surrounding his death?

Thanks,
Scott Seders




Well as the on scene commander, and as the CO of VF-126 at the time..

Flying a routine over water flight in the A-4E. Had the engine start to
make noise, come apart. Wingy joined up and saw that the engine was
disintergrating. Bug said it was time to get out. Pulled the handle
level, at about 15,000 feet, lowish A/S. Rocket motor didn't burn
completely, he hit the tail, probably killed instantly.

Chute deployed, helicopters from the 'Enterprise(?), don't remember, CV
was west, going east, CO was Willie Williamson, picked him up. Charging
toward the scene. He was dead in the water.

Tests conducted on A-4E seat motors at a weapoms depot were conducted. 7
out of 10 didn't burn completely, I grounded all the 'E' models, much to
the chargrine of FitFud(Curt Schantz).

Peter Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret)

D. Scott Seders wrote:
I have searched the net but have found very little. What are the details
surrounding his death?

Thanks,
Scott Seders


I'll try again. I was on scene commander, when CO of VF-126. Engine
came unglued in a A-4E, P-8 engine. When he jumped out, straight and
level at 15k or so, about 200 kts, the explosive that is designed to get
him all the way out on initial ejection didn't burn all the way and he
hit the tail. Probably killed instantly.
One of Willie Williamson's helos, of the CV, which I can't remember,
picked him up. After testing of 10 of the seat charges stored for this
seat, 7 failed, I grounded all the 'E' models(different seat in all
other A-4 models). FitFud didn't like it but I did it anyway.

D. Scott Seders wrote:
I have searched the net but have found very little. What are the details
surrounding his death?

Thanks,
Scott Seders



test

Phormer Phighter Phlyer wrote:

test

P.C. --

Your earlier two posts made it just fine. Can you see this?

--
John Miller
email domain: n4vu.com; username: jsm(@)

Phormer Phighter Phlyer wrote in message

Well as the on scene commander, and as the CO of VF-126 at the time..

Flying a routine over water flight in the A-4E. Had the engine start to
make noise, come apart. Wingy joined up and saw that the engine was
disintergrating. Bug said it was time to get out. Pulled the handle level,
at about 15,000 feet, lowish A/S. Rocket motor didn't burn completely, he
hit the tail, probably killed instantly.

Chute deployed, helicopters from the 'Enterprise(?), don't remember, CV
was west, going east, CO was Willie Williamson, picked him up. Charging
toward the scene. He was dead in the water.

Tests conducted on A-4E seat motors at a weapoms depot were conducted. 7
out of 10 didn't burn completely, I grounded all the 'E' models, much to
the chargrine of FitFud(Curt Schantz).

Peter Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret)

Thanks Pete, I appreciate your response.

Scott Seders

John Miller wrote:
Phormer Phighter Phlyer wrote:

test


P.C. --

Your earlier two posts made it just fine. Can you see this?


They weren't there for me for about 4 days, other times they go up
instantly...sorry for the repost, post, post.

Tests conducted on A-4E seat motors at a weapoms depot were conducted. 7
out of 10 didn't burn completely, I grounded all the 'E' models, much to
the chargrine of FitFud(Curt Schantz).

Is there ever any "come back" on the manufacturer in situations like this? I
can appreciate that no ejections would "come with a guarantee" due to the
large number of variables involved - but you don't normally think of the
seat failing to fire properly as one of those variables.

PS: Good post - it's always great to be able to enjoy the benefit of
experiance instead of just opinion in matters like this.

CC