Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying

A pilot who ejected from a malfunctioning F-35B in heavy rain over South Carolina final yr — which stored flying on autopilot for 64 nautical miles earlier than crashing — was fired from his command of a prestigious squadron on account of the mishap.

Col. Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo, 49, confirmed to Marine Corps Instances he was the pilot who ejected from the F-35B over Charleston, South Carolina, on Sept. 17, 2023, and parachuted right into a resident’s yard. And in a written assertion, Del Pizzo mentioned Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith ordered him to be fired from command of Marine Take a look at and Analysis Squadron 1 after reviewing the report on the crash investigation.

The investigation report, which the Marine Corps launched Thursday, discovered Del Pizzo’s F-35B malfunctioned and its main shows and communications reduce out as Del Pizzo was trying to land by way of rain at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Nevertheless, the report mentioned its standby flight show and backup communication system “remained principally useful.”

Regardless of the investigation discovering Del Pizzo adopted the correct procedures and was not derelict in his duties, investigators concluded Del Pizzo might have continued flying the jet and his choice to eject was a mistake.

The investigation concluded that the mishap resulted from pilot error, and mentioned Del Pizzo “incorrectly recognized an [out-of-controlled flight] emergency and ejected from a flyable plane — albeit beneath extraordinarily difficult cognitive and flight situations,” the report mentioned.

The report mentioned Del Pizzo adopted the F-35B handbook’s suggestions for ejecting from an out-of-control jet but additionally criticized the handbook’s definition of out-of-control as too broad.

Investigators cleared Del Pizzo and all others concerned of dereliction of responsibility. Del Pizzo was certified and ready for the flight, the report mentioned, and carried it out by the ebook. {The electrical} malfunction was additionally not brought on by lax upkeep, the report mentioned.

Del Pizzo assumed command of the Yuma, Arizona-based squadron, also referred to as VMX-1, on June 21 — months after the report was accomplished in January.

On Oct. 2, slightly greater than three months later, Lt. Gen. Bradford Gering, deputy commandant for aviation, relieved Del Pizzo of command of VMX-1 “for lack of belief and confidence in his capacity to execute the duties of his command,” the Marine Corps mentioned. Col. John Dirk took over the squadron that very same day, the Marine Corps mentioned.

“As a commander you serve on the pleasure of the commandant,” Del Pizzo mentioned. “It was an absolute privilege to have the chance to guide the Marines, sailors and civilians of VMX-1.”

The Marine Corps despatched an announcement to Marine Corps Instances Thursday night confirming Smith made the choice to take away Del Pizzo from command of VMX-1.

“The commandant of the Marine Corps regularly assesses issues related to commanders and their models,” Marine Corps spokesman Lt. Col. Joshua Benson mentioned. “Following his detailed evaluate [in September] of the command investigation into the 17 September 2023 F-35 mishap, he made the choice to alleviate the commanding officer of [VMX-1], as a result of distinctive mission of VMX-1.”

VMX-1 is in command of assessing the Corps’ plane and serving to develop and refine techniques, strategies and procedures to fly them in fight efficiently. The squadron’s plane embrace the F-35B, MV-22 Osprey and CH-53E Tremendous Stallion helicopter. It’s a extremely desired management function in Marine Corps aviation, and a few former VMX-1 commanders have gone on to change into normal officers and assume senior management roles within the Corps.

Del Pizzo pointed to the mishap investigation’s conclusion that he carried out the flight utilizing the correct procedures and was not derelict in his responsibility. He additionally mentioned a Discipline Flight Efficiency Board was convened to evaluate the incident and concluded his choice to eject was justified.

Del Pizzo mentioned he was restored to full flight standing in June “after complying with all board suggestions.”

However Del Pizzo’s split-second choice to eject from the F-35 has now forged a shadow over his completed profession, and left his future unsure.

Del Pizzo mentioned he has been provided his alternative of follow-on assignments, and he and his household at the moment are contemplating his subsequent steps.

“We’re deeply grateful for the help of our family and friends as we modify to this sudden change in task,” he mentioned.

From Parris Island, to preventing ISIS, to VMX-1

Del Pizzo began as an enlisted Marine, graduating from boot camp at Parris Island in 1993 and serving within the reserves for 3 1/2 years whereas attending faculty. He earned his fee as an officer in 1997 after graduating from Auburn College and attending the Platoon Leaders Course program and in 1999 grew to become a naval aviator.

Over the following 25 years, Del Pizzo grew to become an skilled fight pilot with greater than 2,800 hours within the cockpit, 32 hours of which have been within the F-35B. He has deployed six instances over his profession, together with deployments to help the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and Operation Inherent Resolve in opposition to the Islamic State.

His profession included a stint commanding Marine Assault Squadron 231, also referred to as VMA-231 or the “Ace of Spades,” from 2015 to 2017. Throughout that point, Del Pizzo took VMA-231′s AV-8B Harrier assault jets into battle in opposition to ISIS as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve, together with the hassle to oust ISIS from the important thing Iraqi metropolis of Mosul.

Del Pizzo additionally served because the Marine Corps service deputy on the F-35 Joint Program Workplace and the tactical air department head at Marine Corps Aviation.

In August 2022, the Marine Corps introduced Del Pizzo had been chosen for his most prestigious task but: command of VMX-1.

On Sept. 17, 2023, Del Pizzo climbed into the cockpit of an F-35B from Marine Fighter Assault Coaching Squadron 501 to apply fundamental fighter maneuvering, alongside a wingman.

His flight, dubbed “Swede 11,” took off at about 12:45 p.m. and carried out an “uneventful” coaching flight by way of heavy rain and mist, the report mentioned. At about 1:25 p.m., the report mentioned, Del Pizzo turned again towards the Charleston base.

Air site visitors management gave the impression to be making an attempt to direct Del Pizzo and his wingman across the heaviest climate, the report mentioned. Del Pizzo started utilizing his jet’s devices to information his touchdown by way of the rain and lowered his touchdown gear.

Whereas lining up his closing method, Del Pizzo determined to modify to the F-35B’s short-take off and vertical touchdown, or STOVL, mode and perform a sluggish touchdown. He radioed that instruction to his wingman — however that was the final radio name the wingman heard from him.

Shortly after changing to STOVL mode, Del Pizzo’s helmet-mounted show began flickering out and again in, the report mentioned. Del Pizzo advised investigators that every time his helmet-mounted show went out, his panoramic cockpit show was additionally not working.

He determined to hold out a missed method process and started to climb out and speed up, the report mentioned, however then realized he had additionally misplaced communication with the tower and his wingman.

Del Pizzo’s helmet-mounted show got here again on-line, he advised investigators, however a number of warning indicators flashed and blared. He felt just like the jet was not changing again to standard flight as supposed, the report mentioned, and the helmet show once more blinked out.

Del Pizzo had at that time misplaced his helmet show and panoramic show 3 times, the report mentioned, and he wasn’t certain what devices he might belief. He felt the plane was uncontrolled, and determined to eject at an altitude of about 1,900 toes at 1:32 p.m.

The report notes that the F-35B’s flight handbook says that an plane is taken into account uncontrolled if it’s not responding correctly to the pilot’s inputs, and a pilot ought to eject from such an plane whether it is under 6,000 toes.

The report mentioned that given the handbook’s definition of an out-of-control flight, Del Pizzo “utilized an acceptable emergency process in response to a perceived lack of plane management under 6,000 toes.”

However the report instantly criticized the handbook’s definition.

“The F-35B flight handbook definition for [out-of-control flight] is just too broad and contributed to this mishap,” the report mentioned.

Del Pizzo’s “choice to eject was in the end inappropriate, as a result of commanded flight inputs have been in-progress on the time of ejection, standby flight instrumentation was offering correct information, and the [jet’s] backup radio was, a minimum of partially, useful. Moreover, the plane continued to fly for an prolonged interval after ejection.”

‘I simply rode a parachute right down to the bottom’

Del Pizzo’s helmet and masks have been “ripped off” as he ejected, the report mentioned. As he descended by way of the clouds, he realized he was over a residential space and have become involved about close by energy strains. He launched his seat pan and raft to keep away from getting tangled within the strains and steered right into a protected space.

Del Pizzo had parachuted right into a North Charleston resident’s yard, advised the home-owner he was a army pilot and requested the resident to name 911.

In audio of the decision, obtained by The Related Press, the home-owner explains that an ejected pilot parachuted into his yard, and the 911 dispatcher responds, “I’m sorry, what occurred?”

Del Pizzo could be heard within the background, reporting some minor ache in his again, earlier than taking the telephone and repeatedly requesting an ambulance. The home-owner mentioned he had no obvious bleeding other than a couple of scratches.

“We had a army jet crash. I’m the pilot,” Del Pizzo advised the dispatcher. “We have to get a rescue rolling. I’m unsure the place the airplane is. It might have crash landed someplace. I ejected.”

Del Pizzo advised the dispatcher he was 2,000 toes within the air when he ejected, and that “an plane failure” had occurred. Apparently believing the dispatcher had not but despatched an ambulance, Del Pizzo sighed and his voice took on a sharper tone.

“Ma’am, I’m a pilot in a army plane, and I ejected,” he mentioned. “So I simply rode a parachute right down to the bottom. Are you able to please ship an ambulance?”

Del Pizzo was taken to a close-by hospital, handled and launched the following morning. However the F-35 was lacking, and its location would stay a thriller for greater than a day.

The army, regulation enforcement, Civil Air Patrol and the Federal Aviation Administration targeted the search within the space north of Charleston. Joint Base Charleston even requested the general public for recommendations on attainable places for the jet.

Headlines concerning the army’s lacking stealth fighter quickly unfold around the globe — as did jokes, breathless hypothesis and memes on social media.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., whose district contains the world north of Charleston, posted her exasperation on-line that evening, hours after the airplane went lacking.

“How within the hell do you lose an F-35?” Mace posted on X, previously often known as Twitter. “How is there not a monitoring machine and we’re asking the general public to what, discover a jet and switch it in?”

The investigation report mentioned the F-35′s transponder failed on account of {the electrical} malfunction, and the jet had crossed under air site visitors management’s radar horizon.

The army introduced the night of Sept. 18, 2023, a day after the crash, that the crash web site of the F-35 had been present in rural Williamsburg County, about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston. The jet had flown for 11 minutes and 21 seconds after Del Pizzo’s ejection, slowly climbing as excessive as 9,300 toes.

After about 11 minutes, the report mentioned, the jet banked down and began descending to its proper, clipping the treetops of a forest alongside the best way earlier than crashing. The report mentioned nobody was injured by the crash, nevertheless it did harm a number of bushes and crops. The $100 million jet was shredded into items and a complete loss.

The incident — and the eye it drew — rang alarm bells all through Marine Corps aviation. It was the Marines’ third aviation crash in six weeks, following the August crash of an F/A-18D Hornet in southern California, which killed its pilot, and an MV-22 Osprey crash in Australia that killed three Marines.

Because the seek for the jet continued, the Marine Corps put all its aviation operations on maintain for a two-day security stand down. The announcement cited the three current Class A mishaps, and mentioned aviation commanders would maintain discussions with their Marines on the basics of protected flight operations, floor security, upkeep and flight procedures and find out how to keep fight readiness.

Editor’s observe: This story has been up to date to incorporate a remark from the Marine Corps relating to the commandant’s choice to alleviate Del Pizzo of command.