You know you're flying low when. . .


Attack of the Killer Cactus

The damage is from flying a Marine Corps Harrier aircraft too low, about four feet off the ground. The incident occurred during a night close air support training mission near Yuma, Arizona. The pilot was wearing Night Vision Goggles and was taking instructions from a FAC (Forwars Air Controller) on the ground. The pilot apparently rolled in too steeply, and was told by the FAC to abort. The damage to the aircraft is from cactuses and other desert vegetation. The the site of the near crash was examined, vegetation was torn off at an "altitude" of about four feet. The pilot was very lucky, as he was going several hundred kilometers an hour and one wrong twitch on the joystick would have flown him into the ground.

Posted: 11/01/2004
 

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Read of an account from Afghanistan I believe, of an Su-24 that didn't quite clear the perimeter fence on takeoff and flew off with chainlink fence dangling from it. . .
 
There was a story years back about a Maryland Air Guard pilot who dipped the tail of his A-10 in the water while stunting over the Chesapeake Bay. I heard it from someone who had worked in their Life Support Shop.
 
When an aircraft which is supposed to save trees... well, doesn't:


 
Here's how the incident in the OP happened, Ukrainian air force training road-base ops apparently:

 

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