Grumman A-6E Intruder Ejection Aboard USS Ranger

[@LAVA-pq3nc]

I was the BN aboard that aircraft and yep, the quality of that video is even better than the copy they gave to me. I was undergoing refresher training and the Marine pilot was a nugget getting his first carrier qual in the A6. When the hook broke it caused the aircraft to swerve towards the bow. I called "EJECT" and we both punched out. As can be seen, we landed forward of the island and the wind almost carried me over the side. One of the deck crew jumped on my parachute and saved my life. He was later awarded a medal for doing so. The pilot broke both ankles in the landing, but after recovery went on to get his carrier qual and serve in the A6. Thank you, Martin Baker.

[@dbl8656]

VA 145 or 155? I was with VAQ 131

[@LAVA-pq3nc]

@@dbl8656 The squadron was VA-128, the A6 RAG .

[@viperdriver82]

Did one of you guys get tangled up in the others parachute ?

[@LAVA-pq3nc]

@@viperdriver82 Don't think so.

[@Kerry0101]

OMG. never would I have thought in a million years to have a first hand account of the BN in this aircraft accident. I was working in V-3 in Hanger Bay 1 and we shot AFFF at the aircraft fuel dropping down if we needed to. This was my very first ship very first ride. Just three days earlier the F-14 took out the number three wire. I was a guy back then, very skinny and very wide eyes on why the hell I was seeing all of this carnage. Look back years later now as a Transgender Woman, I missed my time on the carrier despite all which went on. Thank you for your account of this accident. I knew about the guy who go a metal saving your life. But thank you for your service. Glad you were okay.

[@Big_Tex]

The old mesmerizing PLAT camera, the best channel on the carrier’s TV

[@zxbzxbzxb1]

US Navy cameras were of a better quality in 1941 than in 1991 I have to observe lol. Good find, hope the aircrew weren't injured.

[@stejer211]

Please tell me what exactly you don't understand between actual film and cheap reusable video.

[@Kerry0101]

The pilot and the bomber both ejected. One landed I think on the deck in his seat and had back problems. The other flew in front of the island and almost was dragged off the flight deck. I was in my former Navy days as a guy working in hanger bay 1 when the aircraft fell into the water after hitting two F-18s which the second F-18 hit the third F-18 before taking out 6 25 man life preservers hanging off the side of the catwalk. The A-6 intruders tail hook broke and turned the A-6 15 degrees the captain McGinn said into the F-18’s parked on cat 2.

[@juniormanning2944]

I was in this ship and was part of the rescue and salvage crew. Amazing. Haven’t seen this since it happened in 1991. Wow!

[@KK_on_KK]

Look how quickly the A6 starts to accelerate after the hook snaps, that's one powerful jet right there.

[@jcims]

1:48 Wow the crew didn't even go into the water. Pretty amazing!

[@bunkkasponge]

wow! that is some quick thinking and reaction!

[@crazedvole]

We had gone through Desert Storm with one plane lost to enemy action, then we come back, go out for one week(?) of training a month later and about seven planes are lost or damaged. I think this was the same one where we lost a pilot when a hornet was flying to low and went in the water.

[@SkinE-Vadee-Veechee]

5k hook gave and they lost a 5 million dollar plane. Seems legit

[@Suburbanlife360]

Try about 43million but we get your point.

[@OrdieBob]

Tail hook worked. Just stayed on the wire and the plane kept going

[@paulcooper8818]

The ejection seats look like they pack quite a wallop

[@moshunit96]

They'll be an inch or two shorter after that. Lol.

[@richardracine8437]

56g's. hits you like a ton of bricks. Both cheeks down to 2 inches above my knees was solid bruise. But it saved my life. Thank you Martin Baker Aircraft Co Ltd!

[@denvercolorado811]

Wow. We're you tangled in the parachute risers when you hit the water

[@86chanko]

I hope they were ok

[@Batters56]

So what caused it to go off the centreline? The failure or was it something the pilots always did expecting the arresting action in preparation for turning to clear the runway?

[@madtrucker0983]

Read the description. I believe it's even in the title what happened.

[@Batters56]

@@madtrucker0983 One of the principle reasons for the angled deck is to protect planes and personnel on the foredeck from any mishaps with landing planes. In an ideal world with this failure the pilots would have ejected, but the plane would have gone straight into the sea. It isn’t explained why it veers right enough to collide with the other aircraft.

[@madtrucker0983]

@@Batters56 Got ya, I misunderstood your question.

[@jcims]

@@Batters56 Good question. To me it looks like it pulled right a bit when when tailhook caught the line. It was definitely accelerating so it may have been still at full(?) throttle.

[@cluerip]

@@jcims You're supposed to throttle up on landing. If you miss the hook and end up going around you will need the throttle to stay in the air. I won't speculate for going off centerline because I don't want to muddy the waters.

[@johnhopkins4628]

CQ Det after we had returned from our Desert Storm Combat Cruise,

[@brada1803]

Poor old Ranger - it's questionable history

[@whaleroast]

My old man served on her in the mid-60s. He had some interesting stories.

[@sidv4615]

@@whaleroast mann would love to hear those.

[@tmayorca8770]

Lightning is the helo

[@zachblundeto7137]

[@RobinhooodGFX]

Ejecto seato cuz

[@kurtismotif]

I was there for that

[@jstriggsr]

wonder if the person who did the last PMS check on the tail hook and the crew chief were "called on the carpet" after this ??

[@KorbinX]

666th view ^-^

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

You are Satan... They say..

[@bikerz3857]

Lots of stupid comments here. Obviously they don't know anything about Naval Aviation.