October 5, 2021 PRESS RELEASE #: 2020-002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Navy Super Hornet Crashed in Death Valley National Park
By Commander, Naval Air Forces Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO – An F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed in Death Valley National Park,
California, at approximately 3 p.m. (PDT), October 4. The pilot was treated for minor
injuries at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and released later
that night.
The aircraft was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9 based at Naval Air
Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake.
Search and rescue units from NAWS China Lake, Fort Irwin Army Base, and Marine
Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS) 1 from Marine Corps Air Station
Yuma responded to the scene and rescued the pilot.
No civilians were harmed as a result of this incident. The aircraft crashed in a remote area
in southern Death Valley National Park. The National Park Service and Navy will work
together to coordinate cleanup of this Wilderness area.
This incident is currently under investigation and the U.S. Navy is cooperating fully with
local authorities.