AIRCRAFT CARRIER LANDING MISHAPS, ACCIDENTS & CRASHES 1970s U.S. NAVY TRAINING FILM 9002

About

Landing a plane on the deck of aircraft carrier is one of the most dangerous and amazing daily activity facing pilots and deck crew. This amazing training film graphically depicts various aircraft landing disasters. It also instructs pilots how to avoid them and what emergency ejection or ditching procedures to follow in case they do occur. A barrier landing, called for when a pilot has a landing gear problem, is shown as is the set-up of the barrier. Many crashes in this film were captured by the Pilot Landing Aid Television system, known as PLAT, so quality is not optimal. While the image are low resolution, they enable incidents to be studied in some detail. The impact and the lessons learned from these plane crashes are dramatic and serve as excellent training for new pilots. Ships seen in the film are the nuclear carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and the conventional USS Boxer (CV-21). Planes seen in the film are: F-8 Crusader amongst many others. The film stresses the critical role of the Landing Signal Officer (LSO), who monitors and guides landings, issues wave-offs when needed, and ensures pilots follow the “meatball” visual landing aid rather than instinctively flying to the deck. Night landings, vertigo, and misjudged ejections are shown as especially hazardous. The overall message is clear: carrier aviation is inherently dangerous, but strict adherence to training, procedures, and early corrective actions can greatly reduce the risk of accidents and ensure mission success.

0:00 – Introduction to carrier landings: The narrator explains the challenge and sense of accomplishment for Navy pilots when landing on aircraft carriers.

1:00 – Comparison between carrier and shore landings: Carrier landings offer advantages like shallower glide slopes, fewer crosswinds, and immediate stopping via arresting gear.

2:00 – Accidents during carrier operations: Over half of Navy aircraft accidents happen during shipboard operations, mostly due to pilot error.

2:40 – Catapult launches: Safety procedures for takeoff are explained, including throttle management, weight settings, and proper ejection timing during emergencies.

5:00 – Engine or control failure during launch: Pilots must assess attitude and speed quickly to decide whether to eject or ditch.

5:45 – Arresting gear failure: If the arresting cable or system fails, pilots may need to eject during a high-speed rollout.

6:15 – Taxiing accidents: Pilots must follow director signals precisely. Errors, mechanical failures, or excessive speed can cause collisions or deck roll-offs.

7:00 – Brake failures: Importance of checking brakes before taxiing and procedures to follow if brakes are lost, including emergency braking and ejection protocols.

8:00 – Ejection procedures: Pilots should eject early if the aircraft is likely to go overboard. Maintain decision discipline once ejection is chosen.

9:00 – Ship turning during taxi: Pilots must compensate with brakes and power when the ship turns into the wind before launch.

9:30 – Carrier landing approach: Pilots must manage three variables—meatball (glide slope), lineup, and airspeed—for a successful landing.

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Internet Archive, in Ephemeral films

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Credit

PeriscopeFilm

Language

English

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