Captain Francis “Piston” Imlay, of the 366th Fighter Wing out of the Mountain Home Air Force Base, died March 28 when the F-15E jet he was flying crashed about 15 miles outside of a base in southwest Asia.
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.
