Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye crash

On 31 August 2020, an E-2C Hawkeye of the United States Navy, assigned to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 120 Fleet Replacement Squadron "Greyhawks" departed NS Norfolk (VA) on a local training flight.

VAW-120 is the US Navy training unit for the Hawkeye. The unit is based at NS Norfolk (VA), also known as Chambers Field, and operates the C-2A Greyhound and all Hawkeye varieties; E-2C+ (E-2NP), E-2C-II (E-2C 2000-NP) and E-2D.

In the afternoon when the flight took place, the crew encountered an unexpected situation, abandoned the aircraft and bailed out! Left without anybody to steer, the aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a field located near Wallops Island, along Mason Road, Accomack County (VA).

According to the Scramble Magazine US Navy database, the unit operates one E-2C-2000 with the serial ending on 03 (see above picture). This is 165503, coded 622, an was last noted in March 2020. However, this is not confirmed yet.

All four occupants parachuted to safety while the aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Photos: B3A, Stephen Garner and CBS17