[mockingbird812]

"Do you think the investigators will ever know the real
reason this Blue Angel pilot didn't punch out?"

In a former life I was an Aviation Safety Officer and sat on more than a few Class A (major) mishaps with the Marine Corps. It is likely they will have a high degree of confidence as to what caused this mishap and why the pilot did not eject (it is possible he may have initiated but did not clear the aircraft). There will be vasts amounts of information and hard data which will aid the mishap board in making very real recommendations based on what the evidence supports as to what happened. They will start with the flight data recording, comm. calls, interviews with witnesses, detailed examination of the wreckage to include engineering investigations of each subcomponent of the aircraft and of course an autopsy of the mishap aircrew. From the data recordings they will reenact the mishap and perhaps even use a simulator to aid them. An intensive review of his history and training prior to the mishap including his psychological and physiological status. The mishap board will have the highest prioritization for all of the above and are charged with a formal report within 30 days unless there are extenuating circumstances (such as recovering a aircraft from a remote site or deep water). The board is made up of world class experts within the military service (including aviators from safety, maintenance, operations, training & flight surgeons and aerospace physiologist representing the aeromedical disciplines), engineering facilities and laboratories, aircraft manufacturer reps, national pathology (post mortem in this case) facilities, and other specialized entities as needed. The aircraft mishap board is charged to figure out what happened, make recommendations to prevent future occurrences, notify the fleet, and do it fast. This is sent up the chain of command for validation and changes as neeeded. I have no knowledge of this particular mishap other than what is publicly released. I do know that the Blues do not wear anti-g suits (they rest their right arm on their right thigh while holding the stick and the inflation and deflation of the g-suit bladder would throw off their highly intricate/delicate maneuvers) and g-episodes are a real threat. Nutrition, sleep, stress, fatigue, hydration, all have a strong influence on a pilots g-tolerance. Given the pilots recent move to the primary performance team will undoubtedly be looked at carefully.

The level of professionalism within the Blue Angels is like none I have ever witnessed before. They are simply the best of the best. It is sad news when one of the greats do not return home.