Navy says Blue Angel pilot made error before crash

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Investigators say a Blue Angels pilot became disoriented and crashed near Beaufort, S.C. last year after failing to properly tense his abdominal muscles to
counter the gravitational forces of a high-speed turn.

The report obtained by The Associated Press blamed the April crash on an error by Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis, who died when his F/A 18 Hornet went down in a residential area near the Marine Corps station.

Davis was in his first season flying in formation with the U.S. Navy’s elite aerial demonstration team.

The report says a temporary decrease in blood flow to his brain caused by the gravitational pull likely caused Davis to experience tunnel vision and become disoriented.

Eight people on the ground were hurt and some homes were damaged.

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