june 17, 1999 Copyright ) Las Vegas Review-Journal

One Nellis pilot still in hospital, one released after jets crash By Michael Amon Review-Journal

Two Nellis Air Force Base jets that crashed Tuesday were flying in Y2K Flag, a major military exercise intended to assess the Air Force's ability to fight and win in the 21st century. The pilots of the single-seat F-15C and F-15D tactical fighters were taken to O'Callaghan Federal Hospital on base after they ejected. Maj. Bruce A. Till remained hospitalized Wednesday with broken bones in his feet, which he received after a rough parachute landing, Nellis spokeswoman Lt. Nikki Credic said. Capt. William R. Cooley was treated for minor injuries and released Wednesday. No other information about the pilots was available. Air Force officials have no word as to how or why the F-15s that were part of the base's 53rd Wing went down about 60 miles east of Tonopah. Credic would not speculate about the possibility of the jets colliding in midair. "As of right now, an accident investigation is in place," Credic said. Nellis spokesman Staff Sgt. Ed Scott said television reports that the crash resulted from a collision between the two jets could not be substantiated. "We haven't released any information about that. They're speculating on their own," Scott said. Credic said the $15 million fighters, which can reach speeds of more than 1,800 mph and carry eight missiles, were making routine training flights over the Nellis Air Force Range. The crash area was familiar ground for the pilots as many Nellis missions are flown near that area every day, Credic said. She said investigators were trying to determine whether the wreckage was on public or private land. She said she couldn't give specific details about the jets' mission. Y2K Flag would integrate intelligence gathering aircraft such as the U-2 spy plane with fighter jets such as the F-15 and bombers such as the B-2. The exercises began Monday and were scheduled to end today. Despite the crash, Y2K Flag and other Nellis missions will take off as scheduled, Credic said. Credic said Nellis's 66th Rescue Squadron of HH-60g helicopters helped rescue the pilots. She said she did not know from where the main rescuers came. F-15 fighters have played a major role in recent U.S. military actions, including the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and patrols of Iraq. The last serious crash involving Nellis aircraft occurred Sept. 3, 1998. Twelve crew members were killed when two HH-60g helicopters crashed about 25 miles north of Indian Springs. Investigators found the crash to be the result of fatigue, inexperience, pilot error and inadequate training. In 1996, an F-15 crashed immediately after takeoff at Nellis. The pilot was able to eject safely before an explosion

-- G Bailey (glbailey1@excite.com), November 29, 1999

Answers

This sounds more like Y2K (as in the Year 2000) as a label for the jet exercise...instead of Y2K (as in The Glitch). Oh well.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), November 29, 1999.