Aircraft Went Down During Training Flight

The Navy has released the names of the four crewmembers killed in the January 10, 2006 downing of a T-39 Sabreliner training aircraft in Walker County, GA.

The missing aircraft belonged to Training Squadron 86, and officials believe the crew may have been participating in a practice bombing run when it went down approximately 20 minutes after departing Chattanooga, TN enroute to Pensacola NAS. A search was immediately initiated after it failed to arrive at its destination, after what was to be a routine training flight.

The aircraft wreckage was located Wednesday evening. There were no survivors.

As was reported by Aero-News, the T-39 had four personnel on board: a civilian contract pilot, a Navy instructor, a Navy student and an Air Force student.

The deceased include:

• LT Jason S. Manse, USN, 30, Omaha, NE
• Ensign Elizabeth Bonn, USN, 23, Wilkes-Barre, PA
• 1LT Jason W. Davis, USAF, 28, Vista, CA
• Commander Dave Roark, USN (Retired), Contractor, 68, Pensacola, FL

The aircraft accident site was discovered by a Georgia State Patrol Helicopter assisting in the search operation. The site is in the remote, heavily wooded and rugged terrain of the Chattahoochie National Forest.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. A Navy mishap investigation team is on location at the crash site.

FMI: www.cnatra.navy.mil/tw6/vt86/index.asp, www.netc.navy.mil