A Canadian Forces pilot killed when his fighter jet crashed near Cold Lake, Alta., did not eject or call for help before his CF-18 went down, according to an interim report released Monday. <\/p>\n
Though aparachute wasdiscovered at the crash site, Capt. ThomasMcQueen, 29, was killed when the jetstruck the ground in a descending left turn. <\/p>\n
The details arecontained in an interim reportof the November crash released Monday by Department of National Defence. <\/p>\n
A parachute was discovered at the crash site but the pilot did not eject (Department of National Defence) <\/p>\n
The report does not explain what caused the crash, which remains under investigation, but does reveal new informationabout McQueen's last moments. <\/p>\n
McQueen, a 10-year Royal Canadian Air Force veteran, was the flyingbehind the lead CF-18ina two-aircraft training mission. <\/p>\n
Theobjective of the mission was to deliver two inert bombs followed by two laser-guided training rounds simulatinglaser-guided bombs atthe Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. <\/p>\n
Capt. Thomas McQueen of 4 Wing Cold Lake was killed November during an training exercise while flying his CF-18 Hornet. (Royal Canadian Air Force) <\/p>\n
Each pilot was to performa \"safe escape manoeuvre\" after dropping the bombs to avoid simulated bomb fragmentation. <\/p>\n
McQueenwas flying at low altitude,about 450 feetabove the ground, when he attempted the manoeuvre. <\/p>\n
His jet climbed 50 feet, whenthe nose of the aircraft began to drop below the horizon. He was killedwhen his aircraft struck the ground while makinga left turn. <\/p>\n
The lead pilot saw the explosion and transmitted a mayday call. He noted a parachute at the side of the ground scar. <\/p>\n
McQueenmadeno radio transmission himself, nor did heeject, the report said. <\/p>\n
Former Edmonton MP Laurie Hawn, who spent 30 years in the air force and flew CF-18's for about 12 years, said it'sno surprise the pilot did not make a distress call. <\/p>\n
\"You don't have a second. I mean from the time he realized it to the time he died waswho knows a second or two, there's no time to do anything,\" Hawn said. <\/p>\n
\"I'd be willing to bet he looked up and I don't know how much of an expletive he would get out but I'm pretty sure he would have seen this coming in the last second.\" <\/p>\n
The investigation is continuing to examine all operational and technical factors that mighthave played a role in the accident. <\/p>\n
Col. Paul Doyle, commander of 4 Wing Cold Lake described McQueen, originally from Hamilton, Ont., as a dedicated pilot at a news conference last December. <\/p>\n
There's no time frame for when the full report into the crash will be released. <\/p>\n
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CF-18 pilot killed at Cold Lake did not eject or make mayday call - CBC.ca<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A Canadian Forces pilot killed when his fighter jet crashed near Cold Lake, Alta., did not eject or call for help before his CF-18 went down, according to an interim report released Monday. Though aparachute wasdiscovered at the crash site, Capt. ThomasMcQueen, 29, was killed when the jetstruck the ground in a descending left turn Continue reading