U-2 crashes in Sutter Buttes

[H8ms2014]

The pilot was unfortunately killed, a second crewmember was injusred
http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/new ... y/41746460

[BogDog]

Quite tragic. The "Dragon Lady" is a very tricky plane to fly. This plane was a 2-seat trainer. We'll have to wait 'n see if it was pilot error or mechanical.

[kham]

No information just yet. It's too early. There only are about 5 of theTU-2 types left. The one crew ejecting and surviving while the other did not, suggests a low-altitude ejection. And the landing configuration is where the plane is hardest to fly

[BogDog]

Both pilots ejected, so the fatality must have come from some other cause. In fact, 3 parachutes were spotted, as a package of sensitive hardware was also ejected: http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=m ... 3ba0107b39

The lost crewman has been identified: http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... crash.aspx

[kham]

The video is almost worthless, I don't see 3 chutes, and what the witnesses might be confused by is that smoke trail. On a training mission, there wouldn't be any sensitive hardware in a pod of any kind to jettison. And you can get killed by just ejecting from any number of horrible means

[BogDog]

On a training mission, there wouldn't be any sensitive hardware in a pod of any kind to jettison.

There might be if the training was about using the "special" equipment and not flight instruction...Probably never know for sure.