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Injured pilot recovering, soon to be released

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ken Hall
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AETCNS) --  Maj. Marc Montgomery and his wife, Kathleen, recently had a rare encounter with his Commander-in-Chief.

President George W. Bush met with them Jan. 1 while visiting wounded and injured troops at Brooke Army Medical Center.

Major Montgomery was seriously injured when he and his student ejected Dec. 13 from a T-38C Talon.

Major Montgomery, an instructor pilot with the 96th Flying Training Squadron, has been hospitalized in San Antonio since the mishap, though his squadron commander said he should be released soon.

"He's in good spirits and actually up and around on his crutches," said Lt. Col. George Fenimore. "BAMC is the best facility of its kind in the entire world, and we're fortunate to be so close.

"He should be released from the hospital this weekend and will continue recuperating at home here in Del Rio. He's expected to recover in a number of months and fly again," Colonel Fenimore said.

Major Montgomery's aircraft crashed after being apparently struck by a bird as he and student pilot, 2nd Lt. Jonathan Ballard of the 87th Flying Training Squadron, flew a routine low-level mission east of Brackettville.

It had been more than two years since the last major aircraft mishap here.

"We've had a crash, two good 'chutes' seen," squawked radios here in the late afternoon the day of the mishap. Responders hurried to action at Laughlin and Spofford Airfield after hearing the T-38C had gone down. A massive effort was coordinated among several base agencies and off-base emergency responders.

"From start to finish, everything worked the way it was supposed to," said Col. Tod Wolters, 47th Flying Training Wing commander. "For all the factors that had to converge to keep our two Airmen alive--this was certainly the result of our folks' extensive training and a lot of hard work."

Colonel Wolters said the wing mobilized well to respond to this accident.

"From the ejection seats and chutes working properly, to fire and search and rescue, command and control, medical response, safety, maintenance -- all the pieces of the puzzle worked because of training."

As the mishap unfolded, Major Montgomery had more on his mind than his own safety. "Throughout the final seconds of flight, Major Montgomery's primary concern was for the safety of his student pilot," said Colonel Fenimore.

Major Montgomery was airlifted to BAMC. Lieutenant Ballard was transported back to Laughlin where he was evaluated at the 47th Medical Group clinic and released.

Major Montgomery's recovery is the result of the teamwork exercised by all who participated in the response efforts.

"Our response to this mishap underscored the value of training and its role ... not only in our Airmen's survival, but in the outstanding response efforts that followed," said Maj. Brad Rice, wing safety acting chief.

The loss of the T-38C is classified as a Class A mishap. It requires both safety board and accident board investigations.

Col. John Newell, 12th Operations Group commander, Randolph AFB, Texas, is president of the safety board which began work Dec. 13.

The accident board convenes Jan. 7 and will be headed by Col. Randell Meyer, 56th Fighter Wing Inspector General at Luke AFB, Ariz.