The pilot was Major Joseph C. Howard. He attended NC State 1958-1962. I attended school with him 12 years in Ahoskie NC and 4 years at NC State. I spoke with him briefly by phone the Sunday morning of accident. The Air Force never makes public the
cause of any crash. The F-4 had problems before it reached field on that run and flew over the crowd at Dulles, travelling NE to SW. The crash made the evening news on Washington DC TV and it showed Joe successfully maneuvered the plane away from the
crowd, successfully ejected but at such a low altitude the fire and heat from the crash drew his parachute up and over into the flames. I will say the man I spoke to at Dulles the day before.(Sat) was not a candidate for a heart attack and a pilot who
had flown well over 100 missions in Vietnam (69 over the North), surviving being shot down over the south China Sea, would hardly be a candidate for pilot error.

If you ever get to Nellis Air Force Base, the headquarters Building is Howard Hall. If there had been any hint of pilot error , I'm sure the Air Force would not have honored his memory with such a tribute.

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Thanks for this info about Major Howard. I was at that air show and saw the crash. I was 6 years old. I've read that he directed his plane away from the crowd. Who knows. He may have saved my life that day. I am grateful for his service either way.
Thanks for writing inwith this info.

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On Tuesday, September 21, 1993 at 10:44:00 PM UTC-4, Albert Dobyns wrote:

Way back in 1972 at Dulles Intl Airport, there was a huge show on what
future transportation might look like. They also had several airshow performers including the Thunderbirds. Back then they were flying the
F-4. On the last day of the show, they were getting ready to do that maneuver where they all pull up sharply and then after they have gained
a fair amount of altitude they pull over each going a different
direction. I'm sure there's a name for that stunt, I just don't
remember it. Anyway, one of the planes (I believe Mike Kerby was his
name) had a problem. The newspaper or some other report said that one
of his J-79s had a compressor stall. Shortly after that the other
engine had the same problem. He stay with the plane long enough to get
it level and pointing away from the crowds before ejecting. By that
time he must have been fairly close to the ground because he couldn't
steer his chute away from the fireball. He died in the fireball. I
guess lots of people saw it happen. I had planned to go on the last
day for a 2nd time to see the airshow. I'm glad I didn't (more
concerned for my wife and kids seeing the accident). Was the loss of
the plane and pilot caused by pilot error or mechanical problem? I
don't know. At least he was able to avoid having the plane crash close
to the crowd. I don't think such accidents should cause airshows to be
shut down. I just think that airshows give more people more of an opportunity to see tragic accidents as they happen. And these days it's
not uncommon to see videotape show up on the evening news. Just thought
I'd throw in my 2 cents worth (not counting the cost of this message
being transmitted over the phone company's wires)!

* SLMR 2.1a * "Ensign Clampett? He's Jed, Jim."

----
MidWest BBS - 708-513-1034 -ILINK Charter Member, UsMail Regional Hub, Usenet

I was 7 yrs old...at Dulles...I saw this ...I was there for the Air Show...The Show Stopped...I saw..they clipped...doing and inversion . He Peeled away..he knew they clipped...He Went Away from the crowd ....I think..I was very young...I know nothing
other than I can see it in my mind..like a photo..whew..

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tuesday, September 21, 1993 at 10:44:00 PM UTC-4, Albert Dobyns wrote:

Way back in 1972 at Dulles Intl Airport, there was a huge show on what
future transportation might look like. They also had several airshow performers including the Thunderbirds. Back then they were flying the
F-4. On the last day of the show, they were getting ready to do that maneuver where they all pull up sharply and then after they have gained
a fair amount of altitude they pull over each going a different
direction. I'm sure there's a name for that stunt, I just don't
remember it. Anyway, one of the planes (I believe Mike Kerby was his
name) had a problem. The newspaper or some other report said that one
of his J-79s had a compressor stall. Shortly after that the other
engine had the same problem. He stay with the plane long enough to get
it level and pointing away from the crowds before ejecting. By that
time he must have been fairly close to the ground because he couldn't
steer his chute away from the fireball. He died in the fireball. I
guess lots of people saw it happen. I had planned to go on the last
day for a 2nd time to see the airshow. I'm glad I didn't (more
concerned for my wife and kids seeing the accident). Was the loss of
the plane and pilot caused by pilot error or mechanical problem? I
don't know. At least he was able to avoid having the plane crash close
to the crowd. I don't think such accidents should cause airshows to be
shut down. I just think that airshows give more people more of an opportunity to see tragic accidents as they happen. And these days it's
not uncommon to see videotape show up on the evening news. Just thought
I'd throw in my 2 cents worth (not counting the cost of this message
being transmitted over the phone company's wires)!

* SLMR 2.1a * "Ensign Clampett? He's Jed, Jim."

----
MidWest BBS - 708-513-1034 -ILINK Charter Member, UsMail Regional Hub, Usenet

Albert I was there.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tuesday, September 21, 1993 at 10:44:00 PM UTC-4, Albert Dobyns wrote:

Way back in 1972 at Dulles Intl Airport, there was a huge show on what
future transportation might look like. They also had several airshow performers including the Thunderbirds. Back then they were flying the
F-4. On the last day of the show, they were getting ready to do that maneuver where they all pull up sharply and then after they have gained
a fair amount of altitude they pull over each going a different
direction. I'm sure there's a name for that stunt, I just don't
remember it. Anyway, one of the planes (I believe Mike Kerby was his
name) had a problem. The newspaper or some other report said that one
of his J-79s had a compressor stall. Shortly after that the other
engine had the same problem. He stay with the plane long enough to get
it level and pointing away from the crowds before ejecting. By that
time he must have been fairly close to the ground because he couldn't
steer his chute away from the fireball. He died in the fireball. I
guess lots of people saw it happen. I had planned to go on the last
day for a 2nd time to see the airshow. I'm glad I didn't (more
concerned for my wife and kids seeing the accident). Was the loss of
the plane and pilot caused by pilot error or mechanical problem? I
don't know. At least he was able to avoid having the plane crash close
to the crowd. I don't think such accidents should cause airshows to be
shut down. I just think that airshows give more people more of an opportunity to see tragic accidents as they happen. And these days it's
not uncommon to see videotape show up on the evening news. Just thought
I'd throw in my 2 cents worth (not counting the cost of this message
being transmitted over the phone company's wires)!

* SLMR 2.1a * "Ensign Clampett? He's Jed, Jim."

----
MidWest BBS - 708-513-1034 -ILINK Charter Member, UsMail Regional Hub, Usenet

Albert ..contact me...I saw it..Elizabeth/ Bets

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)