Lawsuits Filed Over Crash of Navy F-14 in El Cajon

Three civilian helicopter mechanics who were injured in the 1988 crash of a Navy jet at Gillespie Field in El Cajon have sued the military, alleging that the crash was caused by negligence.

Although no specific damage amounts were listed in the lawsuits, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, letters attached to the documents suggested that their cases could be settled for a combined $55.1 million.

Two of the men--William Grant and Edward Barnes--were working as helicopter repairmen at Skydance Helicopters at the time of the Sept. 12, 1988, crash. Grant’s wife, Laurie, is also a plaintiff.

The fourth plaintiff, Michael Taras, was working as a helicopter repairman for Krauss Helicopters. Taras’ suit is separate from the one filed by the Grants and Barnes.

Both actions allege that the Navy failed to inspect the F-14 Tomcat before the ill-fated flight and “carelessly” permitted the aircraft’s hydraulic system to be “in a state of disrepair.”

The F-14 crashed at Gillespie Field after experiencing total hydraulic failure while on a training mission. One of the jet’s two crewman was killed after ejecting from the disabled aircraft, the other parachuted to safety. They were attempting to return the disabled aircraft, which at first had suffered partial hydraulic failure, to Miramar Naval Air Station.

The Navy had faced several damage claims since the crash, which also destroyed about 20 aircraft and a half-dozen vehicles on the ground at Gillespie Field.