What happened
The incident involved a training flight originating from Eglin Air Force Base. During the enroute phase of the mission, the crew encountered an unexpected situation that necessitated the immediate abandonment of the aircraft. The airframe subsequently impacted the water surface approximately two miles off the coast of Destin.
Following the crash, rescue operations were initiated for the personnel on board. Two members of the crew were successfully recovered from the sea and survived the incident. However, despite extensive search efforts, the body of one crew member was never located, resulting in a confirmed fatality.
Findings
The source material does not provide specific technical findings or a formal investigation report regarding the mechanical or operational causes of the unexpected situation that led to the emergency ejection.