Freedom Is Never 'Free': CF-18 Crash Kills Canadian Forces Pilot | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.16.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.17.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Wed, May 28, 2003

Freedom Is Never 'Free': CF-18 Crash Kills Canadian Forces Pilot

A Canadian Forces fighter pilot was killed in a Monday accident, at approximately 1420. The accident occurred during a training mission, in northeastern Alberta. Piloted by Capt. Kevin Naismith (38), the CF-18 based at the 416th TFS, went down on the Primrose Air Weapons Range about 3 miles North of Burnt Lake, Alberta. Naismith's Hornet was one of many involved in an exercise. 

The investigation is still underway and in it's earliest stages, but poor weather may have played a part in this accident, which terminated after a steep descent to impact. Tragically; Naismith (right) appears to have attempted a very late ejection, as his body was found over 500 feet away from his aircraft attached to his chute.

Naismith joined the Canadian Forces in 1991 and had logged more than 2,000 hours in the Hornet. The accident occurred while he was flying as part of a two-ship formation at 3000 feet. Naismith was one of some 50 other aircraft working an international air combat exercise, Operation Maple Flag, involving Canada, France, Belgium and the US. Sixteen CF-18s have been lost to accidents since the aircraft was first deployed in 1982.

Naismith was married and the father of three children. They'll be in our prayers...

FMI: www.airforce.forces.gc.ca

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.15.25): Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach

Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.15.25)

“When l became the Secretary of Defense, I committed to rebuild our military to match threats to capabilities. Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.15.25)

Aero Linx: Stearman Restorers Association Welcome to the Stearman Restorers Association. The Stearman Restorers Association is an independent “Not for Profit” 501C-3 Co>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Kjelsrud Gary Kitfox

Airplane Exhibited A Partial Loss Of Engine Power When It Was About Halfway Down The Runway Analysis: The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane was departing from his pr>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Cessna A150L

The Flight Path Was Consistent With Low-Altitude Maneuvering On June 18, 2025, about 0922 mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L airplane, N6436F, was substantially damaged when it>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC