David P. Cooley

{{short description|American test pilot (1960–2009)}} {{Infobox military person | name = David P. Cooley | image = Dave Cooley Cropped 2008.jpg | caption = Dave Cooley explains how the F-22 Raptor simulator operates. (USAF Photo) | birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|02|15}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|03|25|1960|02|15}} | burial_label = | burial_place = | birth_place = RAF Mildenhall, England, United Kingdom | death_place = Harper Dry Lake 35 miles NE of Edwards Air Force Base | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = Cools | allegiance = {{Flag|United States of America}} | branch = 25px United States Air Force | service_years = 1982 – 2003 (21 years) | rank = 20px Lieutenant colonel | unit = | commands = Vice Commandant, USAF TPS F-117 chief test pilot | battles = | awards = | relations = | other_work =

}}

'''David Paul Cooley''' (February 15, 1960 – March 25, 2009) was a Lockheed test pilot and retired United States Air Force (USAF) officer, responsible for developmental flight testing of the F-117 Nighthawk. He was killed while flying a test mission in an F-22 Raptor jet fighter over the high desert of Southern California.

==Biography==

===Early years=== The son of a USAF airman, David Cooley was born February 15, 1960, at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England.<ref name=latimes_obit>{{cite news | first = Jon | last = Thurber | title = David P. Cooley dies at 49; test pilot worked for Air Force, Lockheed Martin before fatal crash | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-david-cooley30-2009mar30,0,3033150.story | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 2009-03-30 | accessdate = 2009-05-17 }}</ref> He grew up in Fairview Heights, Illinois, and graduated from Belleville East High School.<ref name=BND_video>{{cite news|first=Steve |last=Nagy |title=Father of deceased pilot speaks |url=http://videos.bnd.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=3554955&item_index=4&genre_id=1528&sort=NULL |work=Belleville News-Democrat |date=2009-05-10 |accessdate=2009-05-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708074607/http://videos.bnd.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=3554955&item_index=4&genre_id=1528&sort=NULL |archive-date=2011-07-08 }}</ref> Cooley was an exceptional soccer player and captain of his high school team.<ref name=kdsk>{{cite news | title = F-22 pilot with local ties crashes in California desert | url = http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=170754 | work = KSDK NewsChannel 5| date = 2009-03-20 | accessdate = 2009-05-20}}</ref> His enjoyment of soccer continued throughout his life, and he was a dedicated bicyclist.<ref name=lmaerostar/> He attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and graduated in 1982 with a degree in aeronautical engineering.<ref name=lmaerostar>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtas.com/lmaerostar/pdfs/2009/STAR1Q-09.pdf |title=Forever Young: In Memory of David Cooley |accessdate=2009-07-23 |page=29 |last=Rodela |first=Rosie |date=March 31, 2009 |publisher=Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Star }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> George H. W. Bush, then Vice President of the United States, was the graduation speaker and presented Cooley with his diploma, a moment of special pride for the young officer.<ref name=kdsk/> While at the academy, he met his future wife, Sheyla, who was also a cadet.<ref name=latimes_obit/>

===Career=== After completing flight training, Cooley was assigned to fly the F-111 Aardvark<ref name=AF_News>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Hoffman | title = Board examines cause of fatal Raptor crash | url = http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/03/airforce_f22_crash_032709/ | work = United States Air Force | date = 2009-03-27 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090610134108/http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/03/airforce_f22_crash_032709/ |archive-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=dead | accessdate = 2017-05-21}}</ref> and later became an instructor in that aircraft.<ref name=lmaerostar/> He began his career in flight test in 1989 conducting operational testing of new weapons and systems for the F-111.<ref name=latimes_obit/> Cooley was selected to attend the Empire Test Pilots' School in Wiltshire, England as the Air Force exchange officer.<ref name=latimes_obit/> He graduated in 1992 and returned to the United States assigned to the 445th Flight Test Squadron where he conducted tests on avionics and missile evaluation for the F-15 Eagle.<ref name=latimes_obit/> Cooley was also the chief pilot for the United States Coast Guard RU-38 Twin Condor aircraft flight test program.<ref name=latimes_obit/>

In 1998, he was selected as the operations officer for the 410th Flight Test Squadron and performed developmental flight testing of the F-117 Nighthawk.<ref name=EAFB_farewell>{{cite news |first=Julius Delos, Senior Airman |last=Reyes |title=Edwards bids goodbye to test pilot, wingman, friend |url=https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/story/id/123142446/ |work=United States Air Force |date=2009-04-01 |access-date=2009-05-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405163157/http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123142446 |archive-date=2009-04-05 }}</ref> From 2000 to 2003, he served as the vice commandant for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.<ref name=EAFB_farewell/> He was responsible for the day-to-day operations of all aspects of the school and also mentored students as a full-time flight instructor.<ref name=latimes_obit/> After retiring from the Air Force in 2003, he was hired by Lockheed Martin as the F-117 chief test pilot.<ref name=EAFB_farewell/> In September 2007, he transitioned to the F-22 Combined Test Force (CTF) at Edwards Air Force Base.<ref name=EAFB_farewell/> During this time, Cooley and his family lived in Lancaster, California.<ref name=kdsk/>

===Accident=== At approximately 10 a.m. on the morning of March 25, 2009, an F-22A piloted by Cooley crashed at Harper Dry Lake, near Lockhart, California about 35 miles northeast of Edwards Air Force Base.<ref name=foxnew>{{cite news | title = F-22 Crashes Near Edwards Air Force Base, Killing Pilot | url = https://www.foxnews.com/story/f-22-crashes-near-edwards-air-force-base-killing-pilot | agency = Associated Press | date = 2009-03-25 | access-date = 2009-05-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090422035743/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510588,00.html | archive-date = 2009-04-22 | url-status = live }}</ref> Paramedics transported Cooley from the crash scene to Victor Valley Community Hospital in Victorville, California, where he was pronounced dead.<ref name=EAFB_crash>{{cite news |title=F-22A crash claims life of Edwards pilot |url=https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/story/id/123141481/ |work=United States Air Force |date=2009-03-25 |access-date=2009-05-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430060827/http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123141481 |archive-date=2009-04-30 }}</ref> The wreckage of Cooley's F-22A crash extended ten miles east from the site of the accident in Hoffman Road from the Fremont Peak Road, in San Bernardino County<ref name=EAFB_avoid_crash>{{cite news |title=Edwards: Avoid F-22A crash recovery area |url=https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/story/id/123141865/ |work=United States Air Force |date=2009-03-29 |access-date=2009-05-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404114512/http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123141865 |archive-date=2009-04-04 }}</ref> and the debris field covered a wide area including three washes. A security team was deployed to cordon off the area due to aircraft materials that may pose health risks.<ref name=EAFB_avoid_crash/>

The Air Force convened an investigation board to determine the cause of the accident.<ref name=EAFB_crash/> On July 31, 2009, the Air Force released the board's accident report that identified human factors associated with high gravitational forces as the cause of the crash.<ref name=EAFB_report_released>{{cite news|title=Air Force officials release F-22 accident report |url=https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/story/id/123161437/ |work=United States Air Force |date=2009-07-31 |access-date=2009-08-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607121843/http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123161437 |archive-date=2011-06-07 }}</ref> Due to the high g-forces required by the flight profile, Cooley was likely incapacitated by "almost g-induced loss of consciousness" (G-LOC).<ref name=USAF_AIB>{{cite web |first = MG David W. |last =Eidsaune |title = United States Air Force Aircraft Accident Investigation Board Report, F-22A, T/N 91-4008 |url = http://www.airforcemag.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Reports/2009/July%202009/Day31/F-22_AIB_073109.pdf |work = United States Air Force | date = 2009-07-15 |page=27 |accessdate = 2017-05-21}}</ref>

==Reaction and legacy== left|thumb|MGen David Eichhorn bids farewell to Dave Cooley, Edwards AFB, April 2009. (USAF Photo) Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO Bob Stevens recognized Cooley's contributions in an all-employee memo the day after the crash.

{{blockquote|text=Our thoughts and prayers are with David's family and friends during this difficult time. We will remember David with great admiration for his courage, his dedication, and his many contributions to our company and our nation.<ref name=LM_today>{{cite journal | title = In Memoriam | journal = Today | volume = 15 | issue = 4 | page = 1 | publisher = Lockheed Martin Corporation | date=April 2009 | url = http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/corporate/documents/April2009-LMToday.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090419092413/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/corporate/documents/April2009-LMToday.pdf | archive-date = 2009-04-19 | accessdate = 2014-05-09}}</ref>}}

A funeral service held on March 30, 2009, at Palmdale United Methodist church was attended by hundreds of colleagues, family members and friends.<ref name=latimes_obit/> Two days later, the USAF held a memorial in Hangar 1600 at Edwards Air Force Base.<ref name=EAFB_farewell/> Speakers included 411th Flight Test Squadron commander Lt. Col. Dan Daetz, Lockheed Martin representative James Brown, and Air Force Flight Test Center commander Major General David Eichhorn.<ref name=EAFB_farewell/>

{{blockquote|text=We are here to honor a life, a life well lived. A week ago, the morning of March 25, a calm day with clear skies, it was a perfect day for a test pilot to take man and machine to their limits. The flight briefing was professional. The test pilot, Dave Cooley, was well prepared and well rehearsed. Nothing was out of the ordinary, until tragically and suddenly, the plane went down. But we all know that it is tragedy that brings out the best in people. While everyone dies, not everyone really lives. David Cooley really lived. Husband, father, Air Force officer, test pilot, he was all of these and more.<ref name=EAFB_farewell/>|author=MGen David Eichhorn}}

In addition to his wife, Cooley is survived by their three sons, Paul, Mark and Aaron; his father and stepmother, William and Peggy Cooley; one brother, Bill Cooley; and two sisters, Susan Pfalzer and Cathy Baker.<ref name=latimes_obit/>

The Antelope Valley College Foundation sponsors a scholarship in Cooley's name to enable the recipient to pursue a four-year degree and subsequent career in engineering, math, science and/or aeronautical technology.<ref name=AVC>{{cite web|url=http://www.avc.edu/foundation/scholarships/davidpcooley.html |title=Foundation Scholarships: David P. Cooley Memorial Scholarship |accessdate=2015-01-03 |publisher=Antelope Valley College |location=Lancaster, California |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103225347/http://www.avc.edu/foundation/scholarships/davidpcooley.html |archive-date=2015-01-03 }}</ref> {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Portal|Biography}} *[http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/25/california.crash/ CNN article]. Retrieved May 19, 2009. *[http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/us_world/AP-F-22-Crashes-Near-Edwards-Air-Force-Base.html NBC Los Angeles article]. Retrieved May 19, 2009. *[http://www.mahalo.com/David_Cooley Mahalo article]. Retrieved May 19, 2009. * {{cite web |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/mar/26/news/chi-ap-il-f-22crash-pilot |title=Test pilot killed in F-22 crash an Illinois native |author= |date=March 26, 2009 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811152505/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/mar/26/news/chi-ap-il-f-22crash-pilot |archive-date=August 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 21, 2017}} *[http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/us_world/AP-F-22-Crashes-Near-Edwards-Air-Force-Base.html NBC News article]. Retrieved May 20, 2009. * {{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123141485/ |title=F-22 crash claims life of Edwards pilot |author= |date=March 26, 2009 |website=Air Force Link |publisher=United States Air Force |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417014426/http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123141485 |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=May 21, 2017}} *[http://www.f-22raptor.com/news_view.php?nid=412 F-22 Raptor web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710215556/http://www.f-22raptor.com/news_view.php?nid=412 |date=2011-07-10 }}. Retrieved May 21, 2009.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooley, David Paul}} Category:1960 births Category:2009 deaths Category:American test pilots Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2009 Category:Victims of flight test accidents Category:Accidental deaths in California