The REAL Truth About Kara Hultgreen's F-14 Tomcat Mishap
Ward Carroll Ward Carroll
557K subscribers
4,036,667 views
0

 Published On May 18, 2021

Support Ward's channel by becoming a Patron at   / wardcarroll  

Lieutenant Kara Hultgreen, USN, was an EA-6A pilot based ashore who was selected to be part of the first wave of female pilots assigned to F-14 Tomcat squadrons attached to carrier air wings aboard aircraft carriers. She had a pioneer spirit but faced a number of obstacles as she joined a previously male-only environment, including the challenges of trying to land the Tomcat on "the boat." In 1994 while approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln during the daytime, her F-14 experienced a compressor stall with the left engine, a worst-case scenario. She mismanaged the emergency and the airplane flipped inverted. The radar intercept officer, LT Matt Klemish, in her backseat, initiated ejection in time to save his own life, but Kara was killed.

In this episode Ward analyzes the aeromechanics of the F-14 during single engine emergencies and reviews the "bold face" procedures - steps that must be committed to memory - that Lt. Hultgreen should have followed during the emergency situation she faced.

show more

Share/Embed