The U.S. Navy is continuing its investigation into last week’s crash of an F/A-18C Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, a Navy spokesman said Thursday.
The crash occurred Aug. 26 just before 9 p.m., when the pilot was attempting to land at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. The Navy said the pilot, Navy Lt. Jason Walker, couldn’t stop his aircraft and it went into San Diego Harbor near the runway.
The pilot safety ejected and wasn’t injured, said Navy Chief Petty Officer Ray Mooney, spokesman for Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
“The pilot returned to the ship the next day,” Mooney said.
The F/A-18C Hornet is a $29 million single-seat strike fighter. The Hornet involved in the mishap was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 151 and has since been recovered from San Diego Harbor. Strike Fighter Squadron 151 is based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
Mooney could not say when the investigation would be finished.
The Everett-based Lincoln is currently at sea for training. The Lincoln is expected to leave for deployment early in 2005.
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