Non-ejection cervical spine fracture due to defensive aerial combat maneuvering in an RF-4C: a case report

An unusual case report is presented describing an incident in which an RF-4C instructor pilot fractured three cervical vertebrae after impacting the rear canopy top during a negative G defensive maneuver. The pilot subsequently developed an incomplete tetraparesis later in flight and the aircraft had to be recovered by the front seat pilot. No similar cases have ever been reported to the USAF Safety Center or described in the aviation literature.