The U.S. Marine Corps had determined that the crash of a VMFA-232 F/A-18C that claimed the life of Maj. R. Sterling Norton was an accident.
Photo: U.S. Marine Corps
Norton was on his third strafing run on the night of Jul. 28 and he had pulled the trigger 400 feet below his “Safe Escape” altitude.
An audio warning that could have saved him was activated 1.1 second slower, delaying his pull up.