Four military aircraft, apparently returning from a flyover of Los Angeles's Dodger Stadium for Game One of the Major League Baseball World Series, had a close call with a civilian aircraft. After an overhead break at Long Beach Airport (KLGB) in California, one of three U.S. Navy F/A-18s based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in Nevada (accompanied by a USAF F-16) came dangerously close to a Cessna 152 taking off from an intersecting runway.
My first solo in 1995 was preempted by a C-130 landing right in front of me on an uncontrolled airport, non event and awesome. My first solo landing at a controlled airport, the controller almost landed me in a Cessna 150 on a Piper Cherokee she had just cleared to takeoff as I was on a very short final. She side stepped my to the left and a go around and continued the Piper to side step right so I got a little early formation flying. Most of my mayhem flying has been at controlled airports.
I had an equally scary encounter in the pattern at KMRY in 2018. On downwind in closed traffic in a 172 when four Thunderbird F-16s blasted over the top of me within a few hundred feet - it was so close, the cabin filled with their exhaust fumes. I reported the incident and understand the local FSDO conducted an intensive investigation. The near catastrophe clearly left a mark on the local tower community; when I visited the Tower cab four years later, they were still talking about it!
To an inexperienced controller, an overhead break with military jets can seem like a daunting task, or it can appear to be an easy thing to handle. It is neither. On the other hand, extreme caution should be taken when these aircraft are operating in the vicinity of other civilian traffic. Since this was likely a one-off operation (KLGB is a civilian airport) I doubt if the ATCT had much experience in handling these operations. Also when “witnesses” report the planes were “this close” it’s akin to the fisherman’s tale of how big (small) his/her fish was. Bottom line is you don’t screw around with jets doing 200 mph on the initial and executing an overhead break to land. They don’t slow down until they have bled off airspeed in the break. The “I can get another one out” mentality must be put on hold for a few minutes.
Me and my motorcycle riding club. Ya wanna make someting of it?!?! Seriously, after the similar incident in KAUS with a pair of F-18’s and a Citation, I hope that wasn’t the case.
Dan makes a valid point. I’ve had some bad experiences leading a flight of 4 or more into a civilian towered airport. You know you have a big problem when Tower asks Blue 2 if he has Blue 1 in sight – BEFORE you’ve pitched out. (“Affirmative, Tower, 10 o’clock, 10 feet.”'). Or Tower tells Blue 3 to extend downwind for traffic on final – which happens to be Blue 2. In such a situation, Lead should, in the words of 91.123, “immediately obtain clarification” from the controller to make sure the controller fully understands what they just cleared the formation to do.
At the same time, if an “inexperienced” controller isn’t sure what a formation is doing after clearing them for the overhead, the controller should “immediately obtain clarification” from either their supervisor or the flight lead.
Boeing Field makes the same mistake about Facebook. The controllers post there and assume they have informed the public. NOPE. Unless it’s a NOTAM, assume nothing. Very frustrating to read them posting things that I know will never go anywhere near where people actually are doing the preflight planning. Rookies.
It was back in 19 and 85 that I saw a sign that said Space Shuttle viewing area with an arrow. I followed the signs until I was on a flat dirt area with giant numbers written in the dirt. Off in the distance I saw lights so I drive towards them, then I noticed stripes and such in the dirt and now the lights have grown a B52 attached to them. I suddenly loose interest in seeking the shuttle and turn around and drive as fast as I can. I approach the giant dirt number again I look up through the sunroof of my Subaru Brat and see the B52 passover me about 100 feet. My point is that I kept my military bearing and didn’t end up a pair of slippers for a B52, I also learned to never follow signs at Edward’s AFB and to drive past gates left open. Always be aware of the left open gates in life.
Soooooo… I’m the guy that was PIC on that Cessna 152 that got cut off by the F18s. Im a student pilot working on my PPL out of Long Beach CA, that day me and my CFI where cleared to take off out of KLGB runway 26R for right closed traffic practice. Everything was normal, we took off 26R climbed to 700ft before turning crosswind. All of a sudden we get a call from ATC to lower in altitude immediately, my CFI took controls right away and we dropped 200-300 feet in seconds. Then we saw 4 jets passing right in front of us at and angle and turning around us back to the airport. They came out of nowhere! Even the ATC guy apologize to us over the radio, it seem like even he was surprised they appear out of now where and going that fast. After they passed we were cleared to continue climbing and resume closed traffic. As we were downwind we saw all 4 of them landing on Runway 30 and parking near the end of Runway 26L. We wanted to take closer photos of the jets that almost killed us. So we did a touch and go on 26R and asked ATC to change us to land on 26L. We landed on 26L taxi all the way to the end of the runway and exited to the right and we found our selves right in front of those bastards! But they were already parked and no pilots in sight so we just took photos and called a day.
Not many people know that, but ATC do not provide separation services to VFR aircraft, only to IFR and Special VFR. To VFR ATC provides only scheduling services and advisories.