Ed Rasimus posted:

The initial accident report came back as "pilot error" ...

That was pretty much the attitude when everybody looked at the details
of the Final report...especially the T-38 FAIPs.

When briefed to General Creech, his comment was "Thunderbirds don't
make pilot errors." He directed that they come back with something
else.

The good general was also known to "red line" Lts and Capts that
crashed jets. A co-worker jumped out of an F-16 at Nellis as a 1Lt,
Creech had him grounded and shipped out, he went to WC-130s. The cause
turned out to be IIRC, Tower Shaft failure, the first incident. After
Creech retired, the criminal was allowed back in Vipers. He just
retired from the CO ANG.