Low-flying jet crashes, two die at air show

VENTURA, Calif. -- A low-flying F-4 crashed Saturday during an air show at the Point Mugu Naval Air Weapons station, killing its two crew members, Navy officials said.

One of the crew members ejected from the jet as it flew less than 200 feet above the ground before crashing. The jet burst into an enormous ball of flame when it smashed into the ground on the west side of the base.

The jet and its crew had been taking part in the 38th Point Mugu Airshow. It was performing with five other military aircraft when it crashed.

Navy officials identified the crew members as 39-year-old Navy Cmdr. Michael Norman, the pilot, and 31-year-old Marine Corps Capt. Andrew Muhs, a radar intercept officer. Their hometowns were not released.

Videotape of the crash showed the parachute of the crew member's ejection seat only partially inflate as it followed the crippled aircraft.

Eyewitness Jim Hardie said the plane was banking right when a sudden burst of flame came from the engine area.

"We saw a real, quick flash in the middle of the toss of flames," Hardie said. The plane was about 150 to 200 feet from the ground at the time, said Hardie, who was about a quarter-mile from the crash.

There were no injuries on the ground, said spokesman Vance Vasquez. He said the plane went down in a remote area of the base.

The show was halted and the thousands of spectators were told to leave the base. Vasquez said the show was scheduled to continue Sunday.

The jet was a QF-4 Phantom II, assigned to the Naval Air Weapons Test Squadron at Point Mugu. The Q designation means the plane is used as a target by the Navy, Vasquez said.

Point Mugu is about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.