<p>U.S. Navy flight deck personnel work to secure an LTV A-7E <i>Corsair II</i> (BuNo 158830) from Attack Squadron VA-72 <i>Blue Hawks</i> after an emergency barricade landing on the aircraft carrier USS <i>John F. Kennedy</i> (CV-67). The aircraft was launching from the John F. Kennedy on a strike mission.  When the aircraft was launched from the catapult (CAT 1) an incorrect weight estimation to the catapult crew caused the aircraft to <i>outrun</i> the shuttle. The shuttle caught up with the aircraft before it departed the deck and impacted the left nose wheel assembly, causing it to break.
</p><p>The pilot, as well as several deck crew noticed the problem with the left nose wheel feel to the waters below after lift off. Several low level, low speed passes with the gear down (the pilot never raised it following the incident), it was recommended that the pilot divert to land. That was re-thought and those in command decided it would be more of a <i>controlled crash</i> if they rigged the barricade to trap the damaged bird.
</p><p>The barricade was rigged and the aircraft lined up, landing perfectly. The nose gear strut dug an inch thick groove in the deck, removing the non-skid layer applied to the steel. During the trapping, the nose gear strut folded under the aircraft and the underside of the intake impacted the deck.
</p><p>Crash crews were immediately dispatched as well as flight deck personnel manning fire hoses.
</p><p>There was still a 2000 lb. GPB live bomb still attached to the inboard left wing station of the aircraft when it landed.
</p><p>The aircraft was later robbed of all usable parts and decorated with Graffiti. After seeing the condition of the jet, the skipper of VA-72 thought it was not the proper way to dispose of such an aircraft that served the United States in a distinguished manor and ordered the entire aircraft (or remaining skeleton) be freshly painted.
</p><p>The aircraft was jettisoned overboard from Elevator 3 with a large majority of the crew on deck to watch the event shortly thereafter.
</p><p>VA-72 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) aboard the <i>JFK</i> for a deployment from 15 August 1990 to 28 March 1991.
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An attrition replacement for A-7E BuNo 158830 was A-7E BuNo 159999 marked with the same side number '403'. <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/A-7.html">http://www.forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/A-7.html</a>
PH2 Moore, USN
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.defenseimagery.mil">U.S. DefenseImagery</a> photo VIRIN: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/DVIC_View/Still_Details.cfm?SDAN=DNSC9209477&amp;JPGPath=/Assets/1986/Navy/DN-SC-92-09477.JPG">DN-SC-92-09477</a>