FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
• Oceana Naval Air Station located on 5,916 acres within the
City of Virginia Beach
• 290,000 take-offs and landings per year
• 6,000,000 take-offs and landings since last off-site mishap
• FA-18/D carrying one student pilot and one instructor pilot
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
• F-18-D, 56 feet long, Wingspan 40 feet, Weight 37,000 pounds
• Flight Lasted 97 Seconds
• Carried 11,000 pounds of JP-5 / 1,617 gallons
• FA-18/D carrying one student pilot and one instructor pilot
• No Ammunition on Board
• They were going on a training flight, 120 miles off the coast
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
12:06:32
• “Loud explosion…Navy airplane hit apartment building…saw the
pilot come out…cannot see injuries at this time”
• “Saw parachute in the area and then something exploded in the
area of Birdneck Road near Marabou”
• “Adult male said he wanted to let us know Birdneck Village is on
fire and we might need some fire trucks”
• “Complainant said the pilot landed on her patio…he is still out
there…is conscious…her neighbors are out there helping him, she
was told to evacuate but says he’s still on her patio”
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Sunny, 50s,
Winds NNE at 11
gusting to 32
Witness statements
are many and varied:
Result:
• Plumes of black smoke filled the air
• A Navy FA-18D jet lie burning on the
ground
• Apartment buildings were burning
• 7 People injured, 4 transported (BLS)
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Mayfair Mews
Apartment
Complex
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Front Entrance
Mayfair Mews
2010
Front Entrance
Mayfair Mews
April 6, 2012
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
12:09:44 – First Fire Unit Arrives On Scene
Units on Scene Included:
11 Engines
6 Ladder Trucks
2 Fire Squads
1 Navy Crash Truck
5 Ambulances
3 Zone Cars
Mutual Aid Assist
From the Cities of:
Norfolk
Chesapeake
Portsmouth
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
12:35:04 – 1st Pilot Located
12:36:54
“Firefighter is
with 2nd Pilot”
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Division A
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Tail Section
In Courtyard
View from
Side B
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
24th Street Division / B-Side of complex
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
14:31:59
“Per Birdneck Command…Primary complete in areas
they can enter… FIRE IS UNDER CONTROL.”
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Graphic courtesy of The Virginian Pilot
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Unified Command
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Facilities Provided for
Extended Operations
FEMA USAR Cache
Virginia Task Force 2
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Foam Application to
Reduce Airborne
Contaminants
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Bowling-Alley Wax
Application
Sealing
Carbon
Fibers
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Decon Support
• Jet Fuel
• Carbon Fibers
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Aftermath
• Investigation
• Remediation
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Family Assistance
• 8 Pets Reunited
• Medications/Wallets/IDs
• Family Heirlooms Reunited
• All Families Assigned a FF & Navy Chaplin
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
• EPA Continually Monitored Air Quality
• Storm-Water Drains Inspected with Camera
• Soil Testing Performed
• Contaminated Soil Removed
• New Soil Brought In
• Remaining Residences Dusted/HEPA Vacuumed
• Individual Apartments Swab Tested
• Refrigerators Emptied
• HVAC Systems Tested for Particulates and Cleaned
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Strengths:
• Cooperative training between the
Military and the VBFD
• Off-Site Training – April 2010 & December 2011
• All Hands Training February 2012
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Strengths:
• Extensive Training in
Command Management and
Suppression Activities
• Early Development of Section
Chiefs, Divisions and Groups
• Level-Headed Decision
Making by Company Officers
to Overcome Obstacles
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Strengths:
• Early Unified Command
• Rapid Arrival of Resources
• Effective, Efficient Communication of
Direction and Orders
• Exemplary Radio Discipline by Fire
Department Personnel
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Estimated Water Flow:
7,000 gallons per minute
Apparatus Flow Rates:
• E-11 – 900 gpm
• L-08 – 1,900 gpm
• L-11 – 1,000 gpm
• L-16 – 1,000 gpm
• E-16 – 300 gpm
• L-09 – 1,000 gpm
• E-12 – 300 gpm (hand
lines and supplying L09)
Secondary Water Sources:
• Bluebird/Birdneck – 1,000 gpm
• Chinquapin/Birdneck – 1,000 gpm
• Waterfront Dr – 1,000 gpm
If Fire Moved South or East
• 23rd/C Ave – 1,000 gpm
• B St – 1,000 gpm
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Virginia Beach City Agencies:
 Fire
 Police
 EMS
 Sheriff
 Animal Control
 City Manager’s Office
 Mayor’s Office
 Emergency Management
 Human Services
 Public Works
 Public Utilities
 Preservation and Code
Enforcement
 Planning
 Permits
 Risk Management
 Occupational Health and
Safety
 Commissioner of the
Revenue
 Schools
 ComIT
 VBTV
 City Garage
 ECCS 911/311
 Housing
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Virginia State and Federal Agencies:
 Governor’s Office
State Police
 DMV and Vital Records
 State Office of Homeland Security
 Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
 Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
 Health Department
 Medical Examiner’s Office
 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
 State and Federal Senators and Congressmen
 US Navy, CNO, Fleet Forces, AIRLANT, numerous Commands
 Navy JAG and NCIS
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Areas for Improvement:
• Personnel Issues: Maintaining Crew Integrity
• Scene Concerns: Police Blocking Hydrants;
Congestion Due to Personal and Emergency Vehicles
• Equipment Concerns: Interoperability of Radios; Cell
and Landline Phones; Ready-Reserve Fleet
Equipment
• Dispatch Concerns: Alarms Not Correctly Filled
• Safety Concerns: Decon, Personnel Not Following
PPE Orders; Unsafe Buildings; Establishment of RIT
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
34 Days Later
• 920 Tons of Construction
Debris Removed
• 659 Tons Concrete Recycled
• 1,090 Tons of Contaminated
Soil Removed (70 dumptrucks)
• Utilities Restored
• EPA Ruled Contaminate
Free
• Residents Returned
May 10
FA-18D Jet Crash ∙ Virginia Beach, VA ∙ April 6, 2012
Questions?