I am Major Carlos Elias Resendiz Cruz, I have served in the Mexican Air Force for 17 years, flying aircrafts such as: Bonanza F-33C, Aermacchi F260-EU, Pilatus PC-7, Texan T-6C+ and currently copilot training in Spartan C-27J, accumulating more than 1,700 hours of flight as a student, pilot in command and instructor.
I am grateful to share my experience using a US16LA Martin-Baker Ejection Seat.
On July 17th 2018, practicing aerobatic maneuvers to perform at an air show over Military Air Base Number 2 of the Mexican Air Force in Ixtepec, Oaxaca. We flew in a formation of three Texan T-6C+ aircraft to perform an aerobatic maneuver called horizontal eight, which starts with the three aircrafts placed in alternating positions at 2,500 Ft. with enough separation in descent to 700 Ft., followed by element number three performing horizontal rolls around the planes number one and two. At the end of the second roll, a crossing is made where the plane number one breaks to the right, two to the left and the three makes an ascent.
However that day I was flying as pilot in command in the Texan number two, so we started the second practice of that maneuver over the Ixtepec Air Force Base. I was conduction a break turn to the left which to perform correctly I had to delay the PCL to Idle position then immediately to MAX. It was at this moment I experienced a loss of power at 700 Ft. Unfortunately the wind over the station was very strong (40 Kt.), from the north, so the maneuver was performed against the wind. I tried to resolve the lack the loss of the engine but was unsuccessful, forcing me to make the decision to turn 180 degrees and attempt an emergency landing over runway 18, but the winds were too strong and the plane lost too much speed and started to enter a stall.
We were flying the aircraft with no power available, tail wind of 40 Knots, nose down and descending with stick shaker activated, so I told to my copilot that we had to eject, pulling the ejection handle at 100-200 Ft. The aircraft continued into the ground, exploding on the edge of Runway 18.
Thanks to the excellent design and operation of the ejection seat, both my copilot and I are alive with no injuries. I thank the great work of Martin-Baker for their design and continual improvements in their seats to help combat pilots be safe in every flight.
Thank you for making it possible for me to share my experience by having saved my life!
