{"id":31861,"date":"2018-04-14T18:28:24","date_gmt":"2018-04-14T18:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/14\/leadership-failures-in-navy-pilot-training-squadrons-led-to-tennessee-t-45-crash\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:28:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:28:03","slug":"leadership-failures-in-navy-pilot-training-squadrons-led-to-tennessee-t-45-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/04\/14\/leadership-failures-in-navy-pilot-training-squadrons-led-to-tennessee-t-45-crash\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership failures in Navy pilot training squadrons led to Tennessee T-45 crash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Navy\u2019s official investigation into the Oct. 1 crash in rural Tennessee of a T-45C Goshawk from Training Squadron 7 concluded the crash was the fault of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2017\/10\/03\/navy-ids-pilots-killed-in-tennessee-t-45c-crash\/\" title=\"\" class=\"selected-link\" target=\"_blank\" data-original-title=\"\" aria-describedby=\"popover496571\">instructor pilot<\/a>, even though at the time of impact, he wasn\u2019t at the controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investigators said that the instructor pilot was \u201cflat-hatting\u201d by flying and directing his student to fly too close and too fast to ground, which is against the Navy\u2019s procedure for such training of student pilots, the Navy\u2019s investigation into the crash concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report also said that the investigation shows that such out-of-bounds flights and unauthorized training had become part of culture in the VT-7, but also throughout all the Navy\u2019s tactical jet training, which investigators called a \u201cfailure of leadership.\u201d<\/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\/2018\/04\/14\/navy-says-pilot-error-caused-last-years-training-jet-crash\/\" 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=\"201\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/131030-N-CQ428-088.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\">Navy says pilot error caused last year\u2019s training jet crash<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">A Navy investigation has concluded that pilot error led to an Oct. 1 T-45C Goshawk training aircraft crash in a remote Tennessee national forrest killing an instructor and student pilot.<\/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\">Lt. Patrick Ruth, the instructor pilot, and Lt. j.g. Wallace E. Burch were killed on the training flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis mishap resulted from individual pilot error, a culture within VT-7 and Chief of Naval Air Training at large, which fostered [instructor pilots] and [student naval aviators] flying their aircraft beyond the bounds of approved Naval Air Training Command curriculum,\u201d Rear Adm. James Bynum, who commands all pilot training in the Navy, wrote in the report\u2019s executive summary on April 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bynum noted that the flight\u2019s purpose was low altitude awareness training and they were initially on an approved training route, but that the instructor, Ruth, deviated from proper procedure and also encouraged Burch to do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ruth, Bynum said, was \u201cflat hatting,\u201d which he described as \u201cflight conduced at low altitude and\/or a high rate of speed for thrill purposes,\u201d and had been seen doing the same thing on the weekend training flights the days before the mishap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe investigation further demonstrated [Ruth] was overly confident, nonchalant and aggressive at low altitude training, with limited awareness of the performance capabilities of the T-45C in the [low altitude awareness training] environment,\u201d Bynum wrote. \u201cThis attitude influenced [Ruth\u2019s} instructional style and conditioned [Burch] to fly the aircraft in an aggressive manner, without correction from [Ruth].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the moments leading up to the crash, Burch was initially at the controls, flying as per Ruth\u2019s instructions in a manner that exceeded approved rules for this type of training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis included aggressive ridge line crossings and decending turns that took them below the minimum altitude of 500 feet above ground level many times, to include potentially as low as 210 feet,\u201d Bynum wrote in describing the flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2018\/04\/08\/navys-spike-in-aviation-mishaps-is-the-militarys-worst-up-82-percent\/\" 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=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6772428461_2d79437223_o.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\">Navy\u2019s spike in aviation mishaps is the military\u2019s worst, up 82 percent<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Class C accidents were the primary driver of a significant rise in Super Hornet mishaps.<\/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\">The Navy does train this way at times, but not at the basic student level, Bynum pointed out, and said advanced skills like these should only be taught at fleet replacement squadrons that are preparing pilots to join operational squadrons in the fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thirty-five seconds before they crashed, Ruth told Burch to deviate from the approved course and told him they would simply follow the terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRuth assumed control of the aircraft 26-seconds before the mishap and commenced a defending turn to demonstrate terrain following techniques,\u201d Bynum wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just 10 seconds before the impact, Ruth directed Burch to take control of the aircraft and make a hard right turn.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-smg-jwplayer-video\"><atype-video-jwplayer nostick=\"true\" playlisturl=\"https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/v2\/playlists\/fCzRqMW8?tags=20d0ac5e-6ac7-4857-ad28-84db8d5f0662\" aspectratio=\"16 \/ 9\" mute autostart=\"false\"><\/atype-video-jwplayer><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A T-45 Goshawk jet from Training Air Wing ONE based out of Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi has crashed in southeastern Tennessee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat neither [Ruth] nor [Burch] knew was that they were too slow and too low relative to the rising terrain in front of them and that the attempted control input to recover was beyond the limitations of the aircraft,\u201d Burch wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn response to their maneuvers, the aircraft entered into a stall. By the time the aircrew realized they were in extremis, it was too late to eject safely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bynum also said it was questionable that Ruth was even qualified to fly the T-45C or teach the low-level maneuvers, because there was no record he\u2019d completed the requisite training in the T-45C himself and in the end formally concluded: \u201cIt was their actions flying the aircraft in violation of the [chief of naval air training] syllabus and training objectives that resulted in the mishap.\u201d<\/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\/2017\/10\/02\/two-dead-in-t-45-crash-navy-confirms\/\" 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=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/t-45.JPG_b9eef3.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\">Two dead in T-45 crash, Navy confirms<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The aircraft was the T-45 that was reported missing yesterday.<\/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\">Still, Bynum approved the investigators recommendation that Ruth and Burch\u2019s deaths \u201cbe found in the line of duty and not due to misconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the wake of the crash, Bynum ordered a review of the low altitude and directed that every instructor pilots\u2019 records be reviewed to ensure they are qualified, in an attempt to put a stop to a culture of training beginning pilots in techniques that are too advanced for them to handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because leadership tolerated this shift in culture, it was taken by the instructors as tacit approval it was ok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though Bynum directed no punitive actions be taken against anyone, he says that he\u2019s taken action to ensure that going forward that training is conducted within the rules and that all instructors are totally qualified to train their students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe syllabus was designed to be safe when executed within existing guidance, because it was designed with built-in risk control measures at every level,\u201d Bynum wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis mishap is a glaring example of just how tragic the consequences can be when there is either a lack of flight discipline or willful deviation from standards.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Navy investigation has concluded that the Oct. 1 crash in rural Tennessee of a Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft from Training Squadron 7 was the fault of the instructor pilot &#8212; even though at the time of impact, he wasn\u2019t at the controls.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":62511,"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":[]},"categories":[101,12,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3087],"class_list":["post-31861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-navy"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"5S6P6N7JDFC4BAADQRPM57ZVBM","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/04\/14\/leadership-failures-in-navy-pilot-training-squadrons-led-to-tennessee-t-45-crash\/","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>Leadership failures in Navy pilot training squadrons led to Tennessee T-45 crash - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A Navy investigation has concluded that the Oct. 1 crash in rural Tennessee of a Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft from Training Squadron 7 was the fault of the instructor pilot -- even though at the time of impact, he wasn\u2019t at the controls.\" \/>\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=\"Leadership failures in Navy pilot training squadrons led to Tennessee T-45 crash\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A Navy investigation has concluded that the Oct. 1 crash in rural Tennessee of a Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft from Training Squadron 7 was the fault of the instructor pilot -- even though at the time of impact, he wasn\u2019t at the controls.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/04\/14\/leadership-failures-in-navy-pilot-training-squadrons-led-to-tennessee-t-45-crash\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Navy Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-04-14T18:28:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T19:28:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mark D. Faram\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mark D. Faram\" \/>\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\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/14\\\/leadership-failures-in-navy-pilot-training-squadrons-led-to-tennessee-t-45-crash\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2018\\\/04\\\/14\\\/leadership-failures-in-navy-pilot-training-squadrons-led-to-tennessee-t-45-crash\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": 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