Incident Overview
An aircraft assigned to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 120 Fleet Replacement Squadron departed Norfolk-Chambers Field Naval Air Station for a training flight. During the afternoon, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the aircraft, executing a bailout. The aircraft, now out of control, entered a dive and subsequently crashed in a field near Wallops Island.
Occupants and Rescue
All four crew members successfully deployed their parachutes and landed safely. There were no reported injuries among the occupants. The aircraft itself was completely destroyed by the impact forces and a subsequent post-crash fire. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to manage the aftermath.
Aircraft and Squadron
The aircraft was operated by VAW-120, a Fleet Replacement Squadron based at Norfolk-Chambers Field NAS. The squadron is responsible for training aircrew for carrier-based airborne early warning missions. The specific aircraft type and registration were not disclosed in the report.
Aftermath
Authorities secured the crash site and initiated an investigation into the incident. The cause of the unexpected situation that led to the bailout has not been determined at this time.