Top Fighter Pilot Barely Escapes 800 MPH Crash

A Close Call

On the night of April 18, 1995, 2 pairs of aircraft embarked on a training mission to intercept each other.

The 4 planes took off from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and headed 150 miles offshore, maintaining a separation of about 100 miles between the 2 pairs.

Trust Your Instruments, Trust Your Plane

Captain Udell’s wingman flew just 3 feet off his wing, a tactic meant to make them appear as a single contact on the opposing team’s radar.

As they approached their “enemy,” Udell’s wingman broke left while Udell turned right. Mid-turn, Udell noticed the plane gaining speed as the wind roared over his canopy—a sign of trouble.

A Critical Situation

Udell quickly checked his attitude direction indicator (ADI) to confirm the information on his heads-up display (HUD).

While the HUD showed a 60-degree bank, the ADI indicated that the plane was pointed straight down at the water below.

Ejecting Just in Time

The situation became dire as the aircraft plummeted from 24,000 to 10,000 feet at Mach 1.2 with an 80-degree nose-down angle. Udell pulled the ejection handle at 6,000 feet, ejecting at just 1,500 feet.

His parachute deployed at a mere 500 feet. The descent from 24,000 to 10,000 feet took only five seconds—had he delayed even a fraction longer, he would have died.

A Painful Rescue

Udell’s injuries were severe: a dislocated arm, a badly twisted foot, and a broken, bleeding leg. It took 4 hours for rescue crews to reach him.

Tragically, his wingman, Dennis, died instantly. Udell was told by doctors he would never fly or walk again.

However, after months of intense physical therapy, Udell defied the odds and returned to the skies in February 1996!