USS Ranger SU-4 Crash

[MIflyer]

This is page from a magazine with photos showing the sequence of events of the crash of a Vought SU-4 on the USS Ranger on 9 Aug 1934. Pilot was Lt Hopping.

From the December 1978 issue of Aeroplane Monthly magazine.

 

[Wurger]

 

[R Leonard]

From USS Ranger 1934 -1946, The Navy's First Flattop frpm Keel to Mast, R. J. Cressman, 2003, pages 13 & 15:
"At 0825, five minutes into Ranger's recovering VS-1B, Lt. Halstead L. Hopping, flying a Vought SU-4 (BuNo 9419), began his approach. Lieutenant Samuel H. Arthur, the landing signal officer (LSO), deemed it a bit high and signaled 'high." Hopping compensated and received a 'R' ('roger'). but then dipped, receiving a 'low' signal. Arthur saw Hopping's approach as 'normal,' although he noted that it was slightly off center, which was, in his estimation, not unusual. Guiding 1-S-7 in the groove, Arthur signaled 'cut,' so indicating by drawing a paddle across his throat in a cutting motion.
"At that point, however, Hopping's SU-4 drifted to port, restricting the pilot's view of the LSO. Although Hopping had seen Arthur drawing a paddle across his throat and had closed the throttle, he realized simultaneously that he was 'well to the left of the centerline.' He tried to center 1-S-7, but inadvertently opened the throttle. Hopping's trailing tailhook the number nine wire, but parted it because of the load imposed by the SU-4's excess speed. Consequently, the unbridled SU-4 crashed into the barrier. The impact buckled the fuselage, badly bent the landing gear strut fittings, broke the diagonal engine mount braces and the front spar of the lower right wing, cracked and buckled the left gasoline tank, and demolished the landing gear, as Ranger logged her first flight deck mishap"

Hopping had another flight deck mishap on on 28 April 1936, same source, page 53:
"Later, during the first watch, Lieutenant Hopping of VS-1B (who had been involved in the very first deck crash in Ranger's history) returned from a night flight in an SBU-1 (BuNo 9803), with Radioman 2d Class C. L. Evans on board. Seeing Hopping approach too far to starboard in the groove, the LSO 'walked' the pilot to the left. After receiving a 'fast' signal, Hopping dropped 1-S-7's left wing, blanking the LSO from his view, and over controlled, a maneuver that threw the right wing down at a 30 degree angle and caused those on the deck to think that Hopping was taking a waveoff to the right. Hopping opened his throttle, threw the left wing down, then cut the throttle as the SBU-1 leveled off, passing over the arresting wires and through the first two barriers, skidding along the deck for a short distance before coming to a stop. Among extensive damage to the aircraft, the bomb displacement gear fork and right drag strut pierced the fuselage and wrecked the pilot's foot boards, rudder pedals, front stick bearing supports, and adjacent fuselage members. A subsequent trouble board faulted Hopping for 'error in judgement' and poor technique'."

Lieutenant Commander Hallstead Lubeck Hopping (58853) (NA # 3386 30 Aug 1917), commander of VS-6 off USS Enterprise, was killed in action on 1 February 1942 during an early carrier raid, this in the Marshall Islands, where he was shot down. With him died his radio gunner RM1c Harold Thomas.