doug- Classic low altitude loop mistake... He waits too long inverted not
realizing that even though his nose is above the horizon, he's descending.
Not enough room to pull out of the back side. BRBR

I had a USMC O-4 in VX-4 with me that went on to work for this pilot. There
was a report with video that was produced because of this accident, 'snake in
the basket', or something like that. It shows that the combination of low
altitude and airspeed means he was gonna hit the ground, even when on his back
at the top. The pilot was very severely injured, face hit the stick as well.
He was relieved(I think he was a wing commander), and the O-4, Junk Grundy,
lost his 'sponsor', to become a F/A-18 squadron CO...their command system works
a lot like the USAF, the local wing commander picks his COs..
I think he didn't jump out because when he recognized he was in extremis, he
was out of the seat's envelope, due to sink rate. Zero/zero means zero or small
sink rate as well.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer