The ground literally shook. If you were anywhere near Interstate 15 or the neighborhood of Scripps Ranch on that late August night in 2023, you felt it before you heard it. A Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet had gone down. It wasn’t a training exercise gone wrong in the way we usually imagine them—with pyrotechnics and planned ejections. It was a tragedy. Major Andrew Mettler, a highly decorated pilot known by the callsign "Snoop," didn't make it.
Military aviation is inherently dangerous. We know this. But when a jet crashes in a major metropolitan area like San Diego, the conversation shifts from "mission readiness" to "is my backyard safe?" The San Diego F-18 crash wasn't just a headline for a day; it sparked a massive investigation into the aging Hornet fleet and how the Marine Corps manages night-time sorties near civilian populations.
The Timeline of the Miramar Incident
It was roughly 11:54 PM. Pitch black.
Major Mettler was part of the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224, based out of South Carolina but operating out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at the time. They call them the "Fighting Bengals." They were out there doing what they do best: training for the worst-case scenarios.
The jet was an F/A-18D, the two-seat variant, though Mettler was the sole occupant during this specific flight. While the Marine Corps is transitioning heavily to the F-35 Lightning II, the legacy Hornets still do the heavy lifting in many tactical scenarios. This particular flight was a standard training mission. Nothing seemed "off" until the moment it was.
Search and rescue crews spent hours combing the brush near the base. It’s a rugged area—lots of canyons, lots of scrub. They found the wreckage in a remote part of the station, away from the residential homes that hug the perimeter of Miramar. Honestly, it’s a miracle the debris field didn't hit a housing development. If you look at a map of Mira Mesa or Scripps Ranch, you realize how narrow the corridor is for these pilots. One wrong bank, one engine flameout at the wrong altitude, and the casualties could have been in the dozens.
Why the Hornet is a Unique Beast
The F/A-18D is old school. It’s a workhorse. Unlike the computerized, fly-by-wire perfection of the newest jets, the legacy Hornet requires a lot of "stick and rudder" skill. It’s loud. It’s fast. It’s also getting harder to maintain.
🔗 Read more: January 6th Explained: Why This Date Still Defines American Politics
The investigation eventually pointed toward the complexities of night-vision goggle (NVG) operations and the "spatial disorientation" that can happen when you're pulling Gs in the dark over a city that looks like a grid of lights. Pilots call it "The Leans." Your brain tells you you’re level, but your instruments say you’re in a dive.
The Reality of Living Near MCAS Miramar
If you move to San Diego, you sign a waiver. Literally. Real estate disclosures in the 92126 and 92131 zip codes are very clear: you are living under a flight path.
But there’s a difference between the "Sound of Freedom" and the sound of an impact. The San Diego F-18 crash reignited a long-standing tension between the Department of Defense and local residents.
- Noise complaints are constant, but usually ignored.
- Safety zones (Clear Zones) are supposed to be empty, but development keeps creeping closer.
- The 2008 University City crash is still fresh in people's minds—that was the one where a Hornet lost an engine and hit a house, killing four family members.
People compare the 2023 crash to that 2008 disaster constantly. The difference this time was the location. Because Mettler went down on base property, the civilian outcry was muted, replaced instead by a deep sense of mourning for a fallen officer. Major Mettler wasn't some rookie. He was a veteran with over 15 years of service. If it could happen to him, it could happen to anyone.
Major Andrew Mettler: More Than a Statistic
Mettler was a leader. He had been an instructor at the Navy’s TOPGUN school. Think about that for a second. He wasn't just flying the planes; he was teaching the best how to fly them.
When the news broke, the Marine Corps released a statement from Major General Robert Brodie. He called Mettler an "ultimate leader." It’s easy to dismiss that as military PR, but if you talk to the guys in the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, they’ll tell you he was the guy you wanted in your wingman’s seat when things went sideways.
💡 You might also like: Is there a bank holiday today? Why your local branch might be closed on January 12
The "Bengal" squadron felt the hit hard. Losing a pilot during combat is one thing; losing one during a routine training flight in Southern California is a different kind of gut punch. It forces a "safety stand-down," where every single aircraft is grounded, every nut and bolt is checked, and every pilot is re-briefed on the basics.
What the Investigation Revealed
Military crash reports take forever. Seriously. They don't just look at the black box; they look at the pilot’s sleep schedule from three days prior. They look at the chemical composition of the fuel used that morning.
The findings for the San Diego F-18 crash centered on a combination of environmental factors and the inherent risks of night departures.
- Low Visibility: While the sky was "clear," the lack of a moon creates a "black hole" effect over the unlit portions of the Miramar base.
- Mechanical Scrutiny: No evidence of catastrophic engine failure was found initially, which shifts the focus to "human factors."
- The "Departure" Sequence: The F/A-18D has specific handling characteristics when it’s heavy with fuel. If the pilot loses situational awareness for even three seconds during a climb-out or a turn, the jet can enter a state it can't recover from at low altitude.
It’s a tough pill to swallow. We want to blame a broken part. It’s much harder to acknowledge that even the best pilots are human.
The Aftermath and Modern Safety Protocols
Since the crash, the Marine Corps has leaned even harder into simulator training. You’d think they already did enough of that, right?
Well, the new focus is on "unusual attitude recovery" while using NVGs. They’re also looking at the flight paths out of Miramar. There’s been talk of shifting some of the higher-risk training maneuvers further out over the Pacific, away from the populated hills of San Diego.
📖 Related: Is Pope Leo Homophobic? What Most People Get Wrong
But there's a catch. The Pacific is also where the weather is most unpredictable. You trade one risk for another.
Why We Still Use the F-18
You might wonder why we’re still flying these things. The F-35s are expensive. Like, "national debt" expensive. The F/A-18 is relatively cheap to operate, and we have thousands of them. They are the backbone of the fleet.
Replacing every Hornet in San Diego would take a decade. Until then, the residents of Scripps Ranch will keep looking up every time they hear that twin-engine roar, hoping it’s just another routine day at the office for the Marines.
How to Stay Informed if You Live in the Flight Path
If you’re a local, you shouldn't live in fear, but you should be aware. The San Diego F-18 crash was a reminder that the "Safe" zones are there for a reason.
Basically, keep an eye on the MCAS Miramar official social media channels. They actually do a decent job of announcing "increased flight operations" or night-flying windows. If you know they’re going to be active until 2 AM, at least you aren't caught off guard when the windows start rattling.
Also, understand the "AICUZ" (Air Installations Compatible Use Zones). These maps show exactly where the crash potential is highest. If you’re looking to buy a house in San Diego, check the AICUZ maps first. Don't just take the Realtor's word that "you get used to the noise."
Actionable Steps for Safety and Awareness
If you are concerned about military aviation safety in your area or want to support those affected, here is how you can actually engage.
- Check the AICUZ Maps: Visit the MCAS Miramar website to see the "Crash Potential Zones." If you live in Zone 1, you are in the high-risk corridor.
- Monitor Flight Schedules: Follow the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW) on Facebook or X. They post updates about late-night training cycles which helps manage expectations for noise and safety.
- Support the Wingman Foundation: This is a non-profit that provides immediate financial assistance to the families of fallen Navy and Marine Corps aviators. After the 2023 crash, they were on the ground helping Mettler’s family.
- Report Unusual Activity: If you see an aircraft behaving strangely (smoke, extreme low altitude outside of known paths), call the Miramar noise complaint line. It sounds bureaucratic, but those calls are logged and reviewed by safety officers.
- Understand the "Sound of Freedom": Recognize that these pilots are performing high-risk maneuvers to ensure they are ready for deployment. The goal isn't to be a nuisance; it's to be prepared.
The investigation into Major Mettler's crash eventually closes a chapter, but for the community in San Diego, the jets aren't going anywhere. It’s a partnership between the city and the military that has lasted decades, defined by mutual respect and the occasional, sobering reminder of the cost of flight.