Marine investigators say an F-35B stealth fighter pilot grew disoriented amid multiple system failures while flying in stormy weather over North Charleston in 2023, prompting the pilot to eject even though the jet was still capable of flying.

Investigators identified an "electrical event" during the flight that triggered multiple malfunctions, including the aircraft's radios, transponder and air navigation system.

Glitches also caused the plane's $400,000 helmet-mounted display to flicker at least three times.

But the investigation concluded that the pilot's decision to bail out of the jet was "ultimately inappropriate" because other instrumentation was "partially operational." As proof, the report said: "Furthermore, the aircraft continued to fly for an extended period after ejection."

The Marine Corps report redacted the pilot's name, but a Defense News story Oct. 31 identified him as Col. Charles "Tre" Del Pizzo, 49.

The Marine investigative report said no punitive actions were taken against the pilot. However, Defense News quoted Del Pizzo as saying he recently lost command of a squadron in Arizona because of the mishap.

The report comes more than a year after two Beaufort-based F-35Bs were flying near thunderstorms over Charleston International Airport. Under these dark clouds, one pilot ejected. But his F-35B kept flying.

Search parties deployed across the region, hunting for a crash site. The situation grew more bizarre as time passed without any evidence of a crash. Social media memes spread, including one with an F-35 on a milk carton and the word “Missing” splashed across it.

About 27 hours later, search crews finally found the wreckage. Debris was strewn across a field and swamp in the Indiantown community in rural Williamsburg County, about 64 miles from North Charleston. The crash had burned patches of pines brown and scattered fragments across a cotton field.

Military cleanup units arrived, erected signs declaring the area a national defense zone and excavated a crater big enough to hold a couple of trucks.

Then, more than a year passed without any word about what caused the ejection, a delay that raised eyebrows. The Marine Corps normally issues a preliminary report within a few months, Dan Grazier, a defense expert with the Stimson Center think tank, told The Post and Courier earlier this year.

“The longer (the investigation) drags out and we don’t hear about the findings, the more suspicious it gets that there’s some systemic problem with the aircraft,” he said.

The Marine investigation ultimately found a combination of system and pilot errors led to the ejection and crash.

Details of F-35B ejection

In its investigation, the Marine Corps said the Beaufort-based pilots knew the weather might be bad over Charleston the afternoon of Sept. 17, 2023, but forecasters predicted at least four miles of visibility, so the mission went forward.

But the weather soon grew worse, with lightning detected within 10 miles of Joint Base Charleston. The two pilots completed their training mission and planned to land at the Charleston base. One landed, but the second ran into trouble.

The F-35B is capable of hovering, and as the pilot neared the base, he pressed a button that converts the aircraft from conventional flight to hover mode.

A minute later, displays began to malfunction, the Marine report found. The pilot (identified by Defense News as Col. Del Pizzo) raised his landing gear and put the plane back into its non-hover mode.

In an interview with investigators, the pilot said his helmet-mounted display flickered. The display allows pilots to see through the jet's gray skin, thanks to six external infrared cameras on the plane. It also is the pilot's critical link to flight and tactical sensors.

The pilot said he saw multiple malfunctions on his helmet display, and that he thought the jet might have an engine problem. He lost contact with air traffic controllers. He saw more failures.

"Unsure of which instruments he could trust, (the pilot) perceived he had entered out-of-control flight."

The pilot then "ejected from a flyable aircraft, albeit during a heavy rainstorm compounded with aircraft electrical and display malfunctions," investigators later concluded.

Ejection and crash details

The Marines offered somewhat conflicting details about his experience.

One section of the report described him as a "highly experienced fighter/attack pilot" and an instructor VMFAT-501 in Beaufort. Yet, he also was "relative novice in the F-35B." Another section noted that the pilot had more than 1,200 flight hours on the F-35 before the mishap.

Del Pizzo's official Marine Corps biography said he is from Atlanta and completed his Marine Corps Parris Island training in 1993. He was deployed six times, including roles in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, the Second Gulf War and Operation Inherent Resolve, the international war against the Islamic State. He had more than 3,000 hours in multiple military and civilian aircraft.

Ejecting from a fighter jet is a lesson in violence. A line of explosives blows off the canopy. Straps pin a pilot's arms and legs to the seat. Air bags inflate around the pilot's neck and head. A rocket fires, launching the pilot into the air, a process that generates as much as 18 Gs.

During Del Pizzo's ejection, the force ripped off his helmet and mask. The pilot saw he was floating into a residential neighborhood and used his steering toggles to avoid power lines and land in a backyard. A resident helped him into the kitchen and called 911.

The Post and Courier obtained a recording of that call.

“… I guess we got a pilot in our house, and he says he got ejected, or he ejected from the plane,” the resident told the dispatcher. “So can we just see if we can get an ambulance please?”

“I’m sorry, what happened?” the dispatcher said.

Del Pizzo took the phone.

“I’m the pilot. We need to get rescue rolling. I’m not sure where the airplane is. It would have crash-landed somewhere. I ejected.”

Del Pizzo said he was OK but that his back hurt. The dispatcher asked, "OK, and what caused the fall?"

“An aircraft failure,” Del Pizzo answered.

After paramedics arrived, Del Pizzo walked to the ambulance and was taken to the Medical University of South Carolina.

Above, his plane traced an unusual route.

It flew "in a nominally trimmed condition" for 11 minutes and 21 seconds, climbing at a 10-degree angle to about 9,300 feet, then descending in a right turn.

The jet then began "clipping the top of a densely forested area," the report found.

The investigation concludes the jet was able to continue flying due to its "advanced automatic flight-control systems."

The report said Air Force personnel in Charleston lost contact with the plane near Bonneau, about 25 miles north of the base.

Marine investigators offered several reasons for the 27-hour delay in finding the wreckage: the loss of radar contact; its flight below air traffic control's radar horizon; and its stealth technology.

More questions

Investigators cleared the pilot of dereliction of duty. Del Pizzo assumed command of a squadron in Yuma, Arizona, in June, months after investigators had done much of its investigation.

But on Oct. 2, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Bradford Gering relieved Del Pizzo of his command in Yuma, Defense News reported. Gering reportedly cited a "loss of trust and confidence in his ability to execute the responsibilities of his command.”

The Post and Courier could not immediately reach Del Pizzo for comment.

The report comes against a background of air space successes and questions about the jet's reliability.

Together, the three F-35 variants make up the nation’s most expensive weapons program and among the most important. It's known as a fifth generation fighter, meaning it was designed to replace stalwarts such as the F-16 and F-18 fighters.

The Marines said the plane's loss amounted to $100 million, but other cost data suggest a higher price tag of about $150 million apiece, including all necessary and supplies.

The ejection and crash in South Carolina follow at least 10 other F-35 crashes since 2018 and come amid longstanding questions about mounting costs, which may pass the $2 trillion mark for the whole program, according to one recent federal report.

For nearly four years, the Air Force limited certain F-35s from flying near thunderstorms over fears that lightning could cause the fuel system to explode.

Inadequate training and the lack of spare parts also have been chronic problems. The U.S. fleet of F-35s has failed its readiness goals for the past six years, the Government Accountability Office said in an Oct. 21, 2024, analysis.

At the same time, F-35s are being used increasingly in combat operations, including Israel's recent attack against Iran.

Published: Oct. 29, 2024 at 1:45 PM PDT|

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments hosted a celebration of progress for South Carolina’s first-ever mass transit system.

Leaders gathered on Tuesday at the future site of the Shipwatch Square Transit Center, located at 3621 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston.

“This is the center of the Lowcountry Rapid Transit corridor. This becomes a hub of transit, multi-modal access and workforce development. A one-stop shop for all your needs,” Principal Transit Planner Sharon Hollis said.

The event functioned as a progress report for the work done so far with the public getting a chance to hear from those who have worked most closely on this system. The project has hit its halfway mark since planning began in 2019 and leaders are looking at around 60% of the final design.

The project is estimated to open to the public in 2029.

The Lowcountry Rapid Transit System is set to be a 21.3-mile modern bus rapid transit system to provide reliable forms of transportation between various places in the region.

The recommended route for the LCRT, though subject to change as they work through the design plan, would run from Ladson to downtown Charleston across 20 stations. Transit users would have access to 7,600 daily trips with a 21-hour weekday service.

The line would run in dedicated lanes along the sides and center median of busy roads, like Rivers Avenue. Each station would have real-time signage, Wi-Fi, lighting and off-board fare payment.

It would also add road safety improvements for heavily traveled roads and added facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. This includes sidewalks, crosswalks and pathways.

According to the transit group, Rivers Avenue has a 200% higher crash rate than the state’s average. The project would add 34 pedestrian crosswalks there.

“When they provide better for their families, their mindsets are higher and they can invest,” Mayor Reggie Burgess said. “This system builds generational wealth.”

Leaders said it was challenging to create an extensive plan that did not interrupt the function of existing communities but adds to them.

“What we’ve done is design a transit system that goes through communities that are alive, vibrant and active, and it adds to that. It does not displace anyone, “Chairman Mike Seekings said. “It allows communities to add things they don’t have, like housing.”

The corridor alone is expected to see a job growth of 30% and a household increase of 50% over the next 20 years.

The project requires funding from both the 2016 and 2024 transportation sales tax referendums, $250 million from 2016 and a portion of the total $648 million from 2024. There will also be $5 million from the federal government to cover construction.

The system would provide connectivity to more than 60 healthcare and hospital systems, five colleges and universities and several neighborhoods, community centers, jobs, entertainment, grocery stores and more.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Can't start the morning/afternoon/life without a large cup of caffeine? Try one of these local coffee purveyors for a fix. Whether it's free wifi or a cozy atmosphere, there's a place for each need.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

A savior for the citizens of Park Circle, The Orange Spot Coffeehouse supplies caffeine to North Charleston. The setting recently expanded with a new address but maintains the same cozy atmosphere. Try the cha yen, a traditional Thai iced tea.

Not only does Owlbear make an excellent cold brew or a iced caramel macchiato (if you’re into that), but this cafe puts out filling bagel sandwiches, waffles, and fancy grilled cheeses.

The Harbinger is a whimsical space full of plants, Instagram-worthy shelves full of treasures, and cozy seating. The coffee drinks are creative, like the maple latte or the Jack Rudy espresso tonic, but do not miss the baked goods — customers are instantly hooked on creations like a take on Rice Krispy Treats with puffed brown rice, tahini, and chocolate. Check out the sister cafe Harken when visiting the heart of downtown.

The couple behind Sightsee Coffee, Allyson Sutton and Joel Sadler, moved their shop to a larger space just steps away from Hampton Park and their home. The space is bright and airy, with room to linger over a coffee drink and pastries from Little Peanut Bakeshop. The customers can take their espressos to go for a stroll in the park.

In addition to expertly prepared espresso drinks, Mercantile offers free wifi, plentiful seating, and a full breakfast and lunch menu — what’s not to love. Oh, and parking. Sold.

The Daily is the place to go for a morning coffee, breakfast sandwich, or an afternoon lunch. Try the golden latte with turmeric-agave syrup and a breakfast pita with hummus and schug.

Stop in either Babas location for a $1 espresso or its unique peanut mocha. There’s also plenty of pastries, breakfast tacos, and space to sit and enjoy. As the day goes on, customers can also order wine and snacks, like a pickled shrimp salad of fancy grilled cheese.

Vintage Coffee Cafe offers caffeine, eats, and wifi to the Mount Pleasant set. The kitchen puts out sophisticated breakfast items, like seasonal quiches, oven-roasted tomato tarts, acai bowls, and lox plates, among others.

The pick-up window at Brown Fox Coffee makes it a quick and easy stop to grab a morning latte or a cold brew on the way to the beach on Sullivan’s Island.

Kudu not only has a handsome outdoor patio, but an extensive coffee and craft beer program as well. It doesn't offer wifi, so this shop is for relaxation, not work.

Highfalutin Coffee Roasters really cares about its beans. Roasted in-house, the coffee at this Avondale shop is routinely touted as some of the best by local aficionados — don’t ask for a pumpkin spice latte here.

Petite shop the Rise attracts those in search of a perfect cortado or a honey lavender latte. The space is small, so most customers get their coffee to-go.

Since its located on the Market in the Emeline hotel, Clerks Coffee Company is always buzzing with visitors, but this shouldn’t deter locals. The seating area at Clerks makes for a handsome background to sip a latte and get some work done. After the laptops close, the coffee bar offers beer and wine in addition to slices of Detroit-style pizza and salads.

Sunlight-filled caffeine emporium Second State Coffee (formerly Black Tap Coffee) is the spot to get creative lattes (try the brown sugar or lavender) and kick-ass pour-over brew. It is also the meeting spot for creatives and neighborhood friends to chat about the day or upcoming projects. Check out the Second State in Mount Pleasant for a full menu of hearty breakfast and lunch options.

Entrepreneur Amy Wright has four children, and two, Bitty & Beau, were born with Down syndrome. Wright saw an opportunity to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who are among the most vulnerable in finding steady jobs. Her coffee shops Betty & Beau are staffed with a very enthusiastic crew that live with issues like autism and cerebral palsy. Stop in for a cup of joy in the morning.

Muddy Waters is an old-school coffee shop on James Island. Around since 2001, it’s a reliable spot for a latte, a macaron, and a quiet place to sit and read a book.

A savior for the citizens of Park Circle, The Orange Spot Coffeehouse supplies caffeine to North Charleston. The setting recently expanded with a new address but maintains the same cozy atmosphere. Try the cha yen, a traditional Thai iced tea.

Not only does Owlbear make an excellent cold brew or a iced caramel macchiato (if you’re into that), but this cafe puts out filling bagel sandwiches, waffles, and fancy grilled cheeses.

The Harbinger is a whimsical space full of plants, Instagram-worthy shelves full of treasures, and cozy seating. The coffee drinks are creative, like the maple latte or the Jack Rudy espresso tonic, but do not miss the baked goods — customers are instantly hooked on creations like a take on Rice Krispy Treats with puffed brown rice, tahini, and chocolate. Check out the sister cafe Harken when visiting the heart of downtown.

The couple behind Sightsee Coffee, Allyson Sutton and Joel Sadler, moved their shop to a larger space just steps away from Hampton Park and their home. The space is bright and airy, with room to linger over a coffee drink and pastries from Little Peanut Bakeshop. The customers can take their espressos to go for a stroll in the park.

In addition to expertly prepared espresso drinks, Mercantile offers free wifi, plentiful seating, and a full breakfast and lunch menu — what’s not to love. Oh, and parking. Sold.

The Daily is the place to go for a morning coffee, breakfast sandwich, or an afternoon lunch. Try the golden latte with turmeric-agave syrup and a breakfast pita with hummus and schug.

Stop in either Babas location for a $1 espresso or its unique peanut mocha. There’s also plenty of pastries, breakfast tacos, and space to sit and enjoy. As the day goes on, customers can also order wine and snacks, like a pickled shrimp salad of fancy grilled cheese.

Vintage Coffee Cafe offers caffeine, eats, and wifi to the Mount Pleasant set. The kitchen puts out sophisticated breakfast items, like seasonal quiches, oven-roasted tomato tarts, acai bowls, and lox plates, among others.

The pick-up window at Brown Fox Coffee makes it a quick and easy stop to grab a morning latte or a cold brew on the way to the beach on Sullivan’s Island.

Kudu not only has a handsome outdoor patio, but an extensive coffee and craft beer program as well. It doesn't offer wifi, so this shop is for relaxation, not work.

Highfalutin Coffee Roasters really cares about its beans. Roasted in-house, the coffee at this Avondale shop is routinely touted as some of the best by local aficionados — don’t ask for a pumpkin spice latte here.

Petite shop the Rise attracts those in search of a perfect cortado or a honey lavender latte. The space is small, so most customers get their coffee to-go.

Since its located on the Market in the Emeline hotel, Clerks Coffee Company is always buzzing with visitors, but this shouldn’t deter locals. The seating area at Clerks makes for a handsome background to sip a latte and get some work done. After the laptops close, the coffee bar offers beer and wine in addition to slices of Detroit-style pizza and salads.

Sunlight-filled caffeine emporium Second State Coffee (formerly Black Tap Coffee) is the spot to get creative lattes (try the brown sugar or lavender) and kick-ass pour-over brew. It is also the meeting spot for creatives and neighborhood friends to chat about the day or upcoming projects. Check out the Second State in Mount Pleasant for a full menu of hearty breakfast and lunch options.

Entrepreneur Amy Wright has four children, and two, Bitty & Beau, were born with Down syndrome. Wright saw an opportunity to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who are among the most vulnerable in finding steady jobs. Her coffee shops Betty & Beau are staffed with a very enthusiastic crew that live with issues like autism and cerebral palsy. Stop in for a cup of joy in the morning.

Muddy Waters is an old-school coffee shop on James Island. Around since 2001, it’s a reliable spot for a latte, a macaron, and a quiet place to sit and read a book.

Many teams in the ECHL have long been committed to serving their communities. It’s a chance for fans to connect with the team, and it allows players, coaches and staff to promote hockey in a direct way.

On Wednesday, the South Carolina Stingrays held a special Community Night at the Community Resource Center (CRC). Three Stingrays players—Micah Miller, Kyler Kupka, and Reilly Webb—volunteered their time to play street hockey with local kids, sign autographs, and share their love of the game.

The event provided an unforgettable experience for children in the community while introducing them to hockey.

In addition to street hockey games, the kids were also gifted with team merchandise, creating an opportunity for young fans to connect with the players and learn more about the sport. ServiceMaster of Charleston, a Stingrays corporate partner, provided free ice cream for all attendees, making the night an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Louis Smith, Executive Director of the Community Resource Center, highlighted the event's impact on the children and the broader community.

“This event benefits these kids for several reasons,” Smith said. “It introduces them to a new sport, it inspires them to study and look at hockey, and it also brings a cultural thing to these young kids.”

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For the Stingrays players, the experience was equally rewarding. Miller reflected on the importance of connecting with local kids.

“I’d say the most fun part was just getting to know the kids,” Miller said. “A lot of them don’t know a ton about hockey, but I feel like we kind of sparked an interest for them, and they seemed to really enjoy it.”

Kupka echoed this sentiment, adding, “I loved seeing how much fun the kids had, getting outside with them, and playing some street hockey. They were loving it.”

Webb also noted the joy that the children brought to the event.

“The kids all had fun outside playing hockey, and they all had smiles on their faces,” Webb said. “That’s what I loved about it.”

The Stingrays are proud to work with local organizations like the Community Resource Center, give back to the fans who support them, and encourage a new generation of hockey fans.

NORTH CHARLESTON — City Council has stalled plans to donate city-owned land on Robertson Boulevard in Oak Grove to a nonprofit that wants to build affordable housing.

Instead, the city is creating a policy to make sure construction projects on city-provided plots get to the finish line.

"We don't want to give you something and then have no way of holding you accountable," Mayor Reggie Burgess said.

With the policy in place, any organization looking to secure property from the city, whether it's a small business, entrepreneur, nonprofit or developer, would have to sign a contract stating it has secured finances and created a timeline to adhere to.

The contract will include a reverter clause that allows the city to take back the land after a certain period of time if the project is not completed.

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The city owns nearly 20 vacant lots in areas desperate for more affordable housing options, said Burgess as he stood at the Robertson Boulevard property Oct. 14. The Oak Grove/10 Mile neighborhood, located off Rivers Avenue, features mainly mobile homes and small, single-family homes with a mix of new builds.

Burgess' goal for the vacant city-owned land is to encourage generational wealth through affordable housing. Anyone subject to this policy would have to build homes for sale, not rent, he added.

The conversation about creating this policy was sparked at the July Finance Committee meeting when FR33 Lunch, a nonprofit formed in 2022, asked the city to deed two properties next to the Persephone-Moultrie Community Center. The nonprofit planned to use the land to build two single-family affordable homes, according to a letter written to council.

"This project aims to provide stable, safe and affordable living conditions for families who are struggling to find adequate housing in our area," said Kwadjo Campbell, the CEO of JC & Associates, a consulting company that is working with FR33 Lunch on the project.

FR33 Lunch was started by Raphael Parks in honor of his grandmother who served as a lunch lady in the 10 Mile community. The nonprofit addresses food insecurity by providing free meals and starts programs in the community to improve residents' quality of life, Campbell said.

The nonprofit received its tax exempt status in 2022. In June 2024, it was registered as a South Carolina charitable organization by the Secretary of State's office.

FR33 Lunch first approached the mayor's office in February, a month after Burgess started his first term as mayor, to discuss the housing idea. In the following months, Burgess said the mayor's office did its "due diligence" to vet the nonprofit, ensuring the group would be able to follow through with the construction project.

According to a letter written to city council, FR33 Lunch has secured financing through CPSI 401K, a legal entity that funds residential housing in the Lowcountry that covers all phases of construction.

During the July meeting, some council members pushed back on the plan, saying a policy should be in place when approving the transfer of city-owned land to nonprofits to guarantee the project will get done.

"I think we need a defined process and I don't think we have that now," said Councilman Kenny Skipper. "(It's) nothing against what you guys are trying to do."

The previous administration did not have a policy in place, Burgess said. In the past, the proposals would go through the usual city council procedure, the same process that has slowed down this project.

At the July meeting, all of council voted to approve the deed transfer, except Skipper. But the transfer didn't appear on the city council agenda again until October. Usually, after an item is approved at committee, it appears at the next city council meeting.

When the proposal appeared on the October meeting's agenda, the city still did not have a policy in place. Voicing similar concerns about the policy, council unanimously voted to deny the request until the policy is in place.

On Oct. 14, Burgess told The Post and Courier his staff expects to finalize the policy this week. He expects council to approve the policy unanimously at the next meeting on Oct. 24.

Campbell said FR33 Lunch respects the council's decision to create a clear policy moving forward. However, the nonprofit is concerned that delays in the timeline could impact the project if construction costs rise, considering the city and the nonprofit have been in discussions for eight months.

"We should be grandfathered in to ensure our project can move forward without further hindrance," said Campbell.