An unsuccessful ejection

A strike aircraft hit cables and both crew were obliged to eject at low level over the sea. Both canopies deployed fully. The navigator got into his dinghy and was rescued by a helicopter soon afterwards, but the pilot failed to inflate his lifejacket and was dead when the helicopter reached him. The difficulties experienced by the navigator and the probable sequence of events leading to the pilot's death are discussed, and emphasise the need for aircrew to inflate their life preservers before parachuting into water.