CF-18 pilot killed at Cold Lake did not eject or make mayday call – CBC.ca

A Canadian Forces pilot killed when his fighter jet crashed near Cold Lake, Alta., did not eject or call for help before his CF-18 went down, according to an interim report released Monday.

Though aparachute wasdiscovered at the crash site, Capt. ThomasMcQueen, 29, was killed when the jetstruck the ground in a descending left turn.

The details arecontained in an interim reportof the November crash released Monday by Department of National Defence.

A parachute was discovered at the crash site but the pilot did not eject (Department of National Defence)

The report does not explain what caused the crash, which remains under investigation, but does reveal new informationabout McQueen's last moments.

McQueen, a 10-year Royal Canadian Air Force veteran, was the flyingbehind the lead CF-18ina two-aircraft training mission.

Theobjective of the mission was to deliver two inert bombs followed by two laser-guided training rounds simulatinglaser-guided bombs atthe Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.

Capt. Thomas McQueen of 4 Wing Cold Lake was killed November during an training exercise while flying his CF-18 Hornet. (Royal Canadian Air Force)

Each pilot was to performa "safe escape manoeuvre" after dropping the bombs to avoid simulated bomb fragmentation.

McQueenwas flying at low altitude,about 450 feetabove the ground, when he attempted the manoeuvre.

His jet climbed 50 feet, whenthe nose of the aircraft began to drop below the horizon. He was killedwhen his aircraft struck the ground while makinga left turn.

The lead pilot saw the explosion and transmitted a mayday call. He noted a parachute at the side of the ground scar.

McQueenmadeno radio transmission himself, nor did heeject, the report said.

Former Edmonton MP Laurie Hawn, who spent 30 years in the air force and flew CF-18's for about 12 years, said it'sno surprise the pilot did not make a distress call.

"You don't have a second. I mean from the time he realized it to the time he died waswho knows a second or two, there's no time to do anything," Hawn said.

"I'd be willing to bet he looked up and I don't know how much of an expletive he would get out but I'm pretty sure he would have seen this coming in the last second."

The investigation is continuing to examine all operational and technical factors that mighthave played a role in the accident.

Col. Paul Doyle, commander of 4 Wing Cold Lake described McQueen, originally from Hamilton, Ont., as a dedicated pilot at a news conference last December.

There's no time frame for when the full report into the crash will be released.

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CF-18 pilot killed at Cold Lake did not eject or make mayday call - CBC.ca