Goodbye Cools

[Wee Willy]

The publicly released version of the Air Force's accident report on the crash of Raptor 07 is out and it cites human factors as the cause for the accident which destroyed a flight test F22 near Edwards AFB, CA and killed its pilot, David Cooley. Cools was a retired Air Force pilot working for Lockheed Martin within the F22 Combined Test Force (CTF) at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. He was a very capable pilot, highly trained and professional. He was also a very pleasant fellow to work with. We already miss him tremendously.

His loss is a reminder that cutting-edge flight test is still a very hazardous business. May God bless his family and loved ones.

W2

Story clicky.

 

[CAJW]

The publicly released version of the Air Force's accident report on the crash of Raptor 07 is out and it cites human factors as the cause for the accident which destroyed a flight test F22 near Edwards AFB, CA and killed its pilot, David Cooley. Cools was a retired Air Force pilot working for Lockheed Martin within the F22 Combined Test Force (CTF) at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. He was a very capable pilot, highly trained and professional. He was also a very pleasant fellow to work with. We already miss him tremendously.
His loss is a reminder that cutting-edge flight test is still a very hazardous business. May God bless his family and loved ones.

W2

Story clicky.

Sorry for the loss. Aviation is a wonderful vocation.... problem is, you can do everything right, but sometimes luck is in short supply.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Hate to lose those guys (or anyone). It is dangerous but they help make the aircraft a better aircraft for others by testing them.

Thanks for posting.

 

[dcarver]

Damn. But then again, just sayin' without sayin'...

 

[Hit the Road Jack]

The publicly released version of the Air Force's accident report on the crash of Raptor 07 is out and it cites human factors as the cause for the accident which destroyed a flight test F22 near Edwards AFB, CA and killed its pilot, David Cooley.

Take this with a grain of salt! "Publicly released"!!!

Condolences to those who knew Mr. Cooley.

 

[Wee Willy]

Take this with a grain of salt! "Publicly released"!!!

Actually, this report was one of the more cut and dried ones I've seen. Well done and backed by the fact that the jet was fully instrumented for flight test at Edwards. You're from the area so maybe you know what that means. At any rate, I have a PDF version that I'd put up here if I had a way share files. It's a sobering read.

W2