The U.S. Air Force has issued a report saying the Idaho-based fighter pilot who died in a crash in southeast Asia in the spring became disoriented and misinterpreted his terrain in the moments leading up to the crash.
The report released Tuesday says Captain Francis “Piston” Imlay, of the 366th Fighter Wing died March 28 when his F-15E “Strike Eagle” crashed into a radio tower 15 miles from an air base. The report indicates that Imlay did not realize his plane was upside down after he completed a series of maneuvers.
The F-15E’s weapon systems officer realized that Imlay was disoriented and took control of the plane, initiating ejection procedures. The WSO ejected safely, but the plane hit the radio tower before Imlay’s ejection could complete.