North Sea US F-15C Jet Crash Caused By 'Pilot Error'

Lt Kenneth Allen, pictured, died after the F-15C Eagle he was flying on a training exercise from RAF Lakenheath in Sussex died after he crashed into the North Sea after losing situational awareness after unexpectedly flying into cloud 

Daily Mail: US fighter pilot died when his F15-C Eagle jet crash in the North Sea due to his 'reduced visibility' and 'fixation' on intercepting a simulated enemy aircraft, probe finds 

 * First Lieutenant Kenneth Allen was flying an F15-C out of RAF Lakenheath 

 * He lost positional awareness after entering clouds on a training exercise 

 * Lt Allen exited the clouds at 1,000 feet and was pitching rapidly towards the sea 

 * An investigation said Lt Allen became 'fixated' on intercepting a simulated jet 

The crash of a £33m fighter jet which killed a US pilot was caused by 'reduced visibility' and the airman's 'fixation' on intercepting a simulated enemy aircraft, an investigation has found. 

First Lieutenant Kenneth Allen was tragically killed in June, when his F15-C Eagle fighter plane plummeted into the North Sea off Flamborough Head on the east coast of Yorkshire. 

And an investigation by the United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE) found that 'reduced visibility' prevented Lt. Allen from being able to make out the horizon, resulting in 'spatial disorientation'. 

Read more .... 

Update #1: North Sea US jet crash caused by 'pilot error' (BBC) 

Update #2: Fighter jet crash: Pilot error and poor visibility led to F-15 tragedy off Flamborough, investigation finds (Scarborough News) 

WNU Editor: Another reminder that flying military aircraft is a dangerous business.