Mountain Mentor.

Due to an error in the schedule writing process and personal neglect, the squadron's most experienced T-34C NATOPS evaluator launched solo on an out-and-in, although he was fresh from leave and out of currency to fly by himself. The pilot, who six months earlier had weathered a human factors board based on his declining level of professional effort, cancelled his IFR clearance and proceeded VFR shortly after takeoff. After performing several practice landings at two civilian airfields, the pilot continued northbound toward his intermediate stop, skirting ridgelines along the way. As the pilot started a turn around the final peak he focused his attention on the radio console. Just as he finished dialing in his intermediate stop's tower frequency, he felt the aircraft shudder. He immediately noted that he had developed a huge rate of descent. He pushed the throttle to its limit and tried to turn away from the oncoming mountain. Realizing impact was imminent, the pilot intentionally stalled the airplane, electing to land uphill instead of crashing downhill and potentially tumbling.

The T-34 hit the rocky slope with almost no forward speed. The pilot managed to crawl out of the wreckage in spite of a broken hand and ankle. Perched above the crash site and away from a small fire that had started in some nearby vegetation, he attempted to use his PRC-90 but was unable to communicate over the ELT beacon. He managed to fire one pencil flare. Hurt, cold, and exhausted, the pilot waited for somebody to rescue him. A long time passed. The pilot wondered if he'd survive a night on the mountain.

Several hours later a nearby forest fire observer saw smoke. He activated a U.S. Forest Service spotter plane that, in turn, found the crash site. Another plane dropped a line of fire retardant near the wreckage, inadvertently coating the downed pilot in the process. A medevac helicopter lowered a medic who administered first aid. As the rescue helo hovered above the pilot and medic, embers from the fire were blown onto the crash site, torching the stricken T-34 that had remained intact, for the most part. As the fire consumed the trainer, the pilot was hoisted off the mountain.

Grampaw Pettibone says:

Nothing burns my biscuits like this kind of breakdown in the way things ought to go. This guy had to be screaming "failing naval aviator" way before this little out-of-bounds adventure happened. Now I'm not trying to release this pilot from his own wing-wearing responsibility, but I am saying that sometimes a squadronmate is in serious need of what city folks call an "intervention." (I heard about it on the wireless once.)

Oh, well, all was not lost. At least this training mission resulted in some great training ... for the U.S. Forest Service.

Illustrations by Ted Wilbur