{"id":28556,"date":"2020-05-22T20:24:38","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T20:24:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:20:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:20:59","slug":"inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A U.S. Navy F\/A-18E Super Hornet was flying \u201ctoo fast and too low with respect to the surrounding terrain\u201d before it struck the wall of Star Wars canyon in California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/deva\/learn\/historyculture\/military-flights-over-public-lands.htm\" target=_blank>Death Valley National Park<\/a> last summer, according to an internal investigation obtained by Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The July 31 crash took the life of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/08\/02\/navy-identifies-pilot-killed-in-death-valley-crash\/\" target=_blank>Lt. Cmdr. Charles Z. Walker<\/a>, 33, a pilot with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vfa151.navy.mil\/\" target=_blank>Strike Fighter Squadron 151<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Walker was a lieutenant at the time and was posthumously promoted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe flight profile created conditions where the processing time and subsequent reaction time required of the pilot made it difficult for the aircraft to exit the canyon safely,\u201d the report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe findings of this investigation should be widely shared as an example of the unforgiving nature of naval aviation and the fact that a brief lapse in judgement can produce catastrophic results.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A command investigation into the mishap also reveals that seven French citizens were about 40 feet above where the jet crashed and suffered varying levels of burns requiring hospitalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/07\/inside-the-harrowing-final-minutes-before-a-c-2a-greyhounds-fatal-2017-crash-into-the-sea\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"207\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/greyhound-landing.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Inside the harrowing final minutes before a C-2A Greyhound\u2019s fatal 2017 crash into the sea<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">A pilot and two junior sailors died, but the crew&#039;s calm under pressure saved eight others.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll survived and have, and\/or are expected to, make full recoveries,\u201d the investigator wrote in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Walker and his wingman took off that morning from nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/07\/03\/petty-officer-struck-and-killed-by-car-near-naval-air-station-lemoore\/\" target=_blank>Naval Air Station Lemoore<\/a> and flew to a training space above the park in the Mojave Desert and toward the mouth of Star Wars canyon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The investigator wrote that Walker was not current in low altitude training because he had not flown a minimum of 10 minutes in a low altitude environment in the past 30 days, so he was instructed to keep his jet at least 500 feet above ground level during that day\u2019s training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No evidence emerged that Walker was \u201cflat-hatting\u201d or flying at a low altitude for thrills, according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLT Walker was considered to be the most proficient (low altitude training) pilot in the squadron,\u201d the report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His chain of command reported that \u201cthe \u2018low level\u2019 flight was likely a favorite mission of LT Walker and that he was very thorough in his preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Walker entered the canyon from the west, descending through 4,000 feet and going roughly 630 mph \u201cin full afterburner,\u201d the report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wingman didn\u2019t see the crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe wingman was in a hard right-hand pull at the time of impact and reversed left to roll wings level when he saw a huge ball of fire extending up in a column of fire and smoke\u201d at about 9:43 a.m., the investigator wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seven French tourists were taking photographs near the Father Crowley Overlook on the south wall of Star Wars canyon when Walker crashed, according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their names are redacted but the victims included a 57-year-old man, a 56-year-old women and five other men and women in their 20s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUpon impact, the French tourists began to run away from the explosion, but were unable to avoid the blast,\u201d the investigator wrote. \u201cAll were treated for burn injuries of varying degrees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI saw the fire and the debris fly toward us,\u201d one of the tourists said via a translator. \u201cWe were all burned severely. We were very scared, but we are all alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"984\" height=\"519\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/death-valley-crash.png.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/death-valley-crash.png.png 984w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/death-valley-crash.png.png?resize=300,158 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/death-valley-crash.png.png?resize=768,405 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A map included in the investigation into Lt. Cmdr. Charles Walker&#8217;s death shows where his Super Hornet crashed in Star Wars canyon. (Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/deva\/learn\/historyculture\/military-flights-over-public-lands.htm\" target=_blank>National Parks Service<\/a> page for the Death Valley National Park notes that visitors may \u201cnot see or hear an aircraft approaching until it is directly overhead or nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere could be a sudden roar which can be startling, followed by a possible split-second glimpse of a silhouette, then the aircraft is gone,\u201d the page states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simulations later suggested that Walker was going too fast to pull up and escape the canyon before crashing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is possible that LT Walker intended to fly through Star Wars canyon as most aircraft do\u2014through the center of the canyon maneuvering to stay between and below the canyon walls until exiting to the east into the northern portion of the Panamint Valley,\u201d the investigator wrote. \u201cLT Walker may have attempted to turn level through the canyon, realized his turn radius would be too great to navigate safely due to his speed and attempted a vertical pull to exit the canyon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBased on current information, we will never know what actually occurred,\u201d the investigator wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Walker was married with no children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report also refers all questions regarding compensation for the French tourists to the Navy\u2019s claims and tort litigation branch of the Office of the Judge Advocate General.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Navy officials declined to say whether the U.S. government has covered their hospital bills or provided other compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDuring the period in which a claim can be filed, it would be inappropriate to comment on the receipt or the status of such a claim,\u201d Lt. Samuel Boyle said in an email.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The crash last summer killed Lt. Charles Walker and injured seven French tourists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":57252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":65,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","left-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-military"}}},"categories":[101,23,88,12,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3355],"class_list":["post-28556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-left-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-navy"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"MSGGOGZR5VATVFVQ2EUXJGORMM","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The crash last summer killed Lt. Charles Walker and injured seven French tourists.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The crash last summer killed Lt. Charles Walker and injured seven French tourists.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Navy Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-05-22T20:24:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T19:20:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Geoff Ziezulewicz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Geoff Ziezulewicz\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2020-05-22T20:24:38+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T19:20:59+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 810,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Home\",\n\t                \"Left Column\",\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Your Navy\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon - Navy Times\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2020-05-22T20:24:38+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T19:20:59+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"The crash last summer killed Lt. Charles Walker and injured seven French tourists.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/22\\\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"News\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"news\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Your Navy\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"your-navy\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 4,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Navy Times\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News For Sailors | Navy Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Navy Times\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/navy-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/navy-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Navy Times\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon - Navy Times","description":"The crash last summer killed Lt. Charles Walker and injured seven French tourists.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon","og_description":"The crash last summer killed Lt. Charles Walker and injured seven French tourists.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/","og_site_name":"Navy Times","article_published_time":"2020-05-22T20:24:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T19:20:59+00:00","author":"Geoff Ziezulewicz","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Geoff Ziezulewicz","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon","datePublished":"2020-05-22T20:24:38+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T19:20:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/"},"wordCount":810,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Daily News Roundup","Home","Left Column","News","Newsletters","Your Navy"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/","name":"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon - Navy Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2020-05-22T20:24:38+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T19:20:59+00:00","description":"The crash last summer killed Lt. Charles Walker and injured seven French tourists.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/22\/inside-a-fatal-super-hornet-crash-in-star-wars-canyon\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/","ad_zone":"news"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Your Navy","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/","ad_zone":"your-navy"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Inside a fatal Super Hornet crash in Star Wars canyon"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","name":"Navy Times","description":"Independent News For Sailors | Navy Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization","name":"Navy Times","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/navy-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/navy-logo-white.png","caption":"Navy Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Navy Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rainbowcanyonjet.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28556"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28560,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28556\/revisions\/28560"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28556"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=28556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}