Navy confirms identity of pilot killed in Wednesday Super Hornet crash during training near China Lake

Updated 4 years ago By The Leader Staff
Navy Lt. Charles Z. Walker, 33
Navy Lt. Charles Z. Walker, 33
Photo U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy has identified the pilot of the FA-18E which crashed during a training exercise on Wednesday (July 31) near Death Valley National Park. Navy officials identified the aviator as Lt. Charles Z. Walker, assigned to the "Vigilantes" of VFA-151 at NAS Lemoore.

The accident occurred on Wednesday at about 10 a.m. in an area adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The 33-year-old aviator was killed during a routine training mission, according to the U.S. Navy. The crash occurred near the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station near Ridgecrest. 

In an earlier statement, the U.S. Navy stated that it "mourns the loss of one of out our own and our thoughts go out to the family and friends affected by this tragedy."

Navy officials say search-and-rescue missions from China Lake and Lemoore Naval Air Station were immediately dispatched to the area. The China Lake area has been a heavily used training area for military aircraft. Lemoore Naval Air Station makes heavy use of the airspace.

According to the Los Angeles Times, some visitors to Death Valley Park received minor injuries. 

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