| Followup from yesterday. |
The pilot was David Cooley, 49, a 21-year Air Force veteran who joined Lockheed Martin in 2003, the company said in a statement. The company did not release any details of the accident. A statement issued by Edwards said first responders transported Cooley from the crash scene to Victor Valley Community Hospital in Victorville, where he was pronounced dead. Cooley, of Palmdale, Calif., was part of a team of company and Air Force pilots who conduct F-22 testing.
A board of officers is investigating the accident, the Edwards statement said. The Air Force urged people to stay away from the crash site because hazardous materials may have been released.
Air Force Maj. David Small said the jet, assigned to the 411th Flight Test Squadron of Edwards' 412th Test Wing, was on a test mission but he did not know its nature.