• BuNo: 160150
• Location: USS Nimitz
• Date: Tue 17-Nov-1981
• Cause: Pilot Error
• Findings: At approximately 1647 hours, during fly-by of USS Nimitz, Pilot commenced a slow left roll 90-120 degrees left wing down. During transition from 120 degrees left wing down to 60 degree right wing down, aircraft nose dropped 15-20 degrees below horizon. Pilot increased roll rate and pulled nose up level. Immediately at approximately 100 feet of altitude the nose pitched down 10-15 degrees with wings at 20-30 degrees right wing down, aircraft impacted the water and exploded upon impact.
  
  No ejections were observed.
  
  All evidence points to pilot error.
  
  Crew of 4 with 3 bodies not recovered. SENSO was only body recovered.
  
  Source: JAG Investigation Report.
  
  Comments from the JAG Investigation Report: The nose of the aircraft had fallen sufficiently below the horizon that the pilot could not visually ascertain the vertical whereby the pilot rolled the aircraft in the wrong direction.
  
  The possibility of the aircraft's recoverability from an unusual attitude worsened to a position where the aircraft was in extremis (20 to 30 degrees) nose down at less than 1000 feet altitude.
  
  The pilot enjoyed a reputation as a very conservative pilot. His peers considered it high unlikely that he would commit any showboat maneuver or flathat. He voiced strong command policy against any such incidents. He was generally reluctant to perform aerobatic flights.

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