Pendleton Fire Department employees Dave Baty and John Richardson move one of the four pilots who ejected from their military aircraft before it crash landed west of Helix.<br> EO?file photo

The Navy jets soaring across northeast Oregon the morning of March 3, 2006, were on visual reconnaissance training. But training changed to emergency when an EA-6B Prowler crashed into a hillside near North Juniper Canyon Road 15 miles northwest of Helix.

The EA-6B Prowler is an electronic warfare plane with a pilot and three tactical crew members. The aircraft can jam enemy radar and communications and provide countermeasures to defend against radar-guided guns and missiles. Lt. Cynthia Lisa was commanding the flight attached to the “Black Ravens” Electronic Attack Squadron out of the Navy’s base at Whidbey Island, Wash. Lisa recounted the crash during a speech at a technical workshop at the College of Southern Maryland in 2008. The Web site dcmilitary.com reported Lisa said it was a great day for flying. The jet was flying near 480 mph at an altitude of 500 feet. Then, she said, there was a whirring sound and smoke in the cockpit. Lisa flew the jet to a higher altitude and was performing system checks when the aircraft’s fire warning lights came on. Lisa immediately ordered her crew to eject.

The four crewmembers only suffered minor injuries.

Dispatchers received a report at 11:28 a.m. that Friday of a “military aircraft down” with four parachuters. County and state emergency workers responded, and authorities partially activated operations centers in Umatilla and Walla Walla counties.

The Navy investigated the crash, but current and former Umatilla County officials didn’t recall the Navy letting them know about any cause. A single reference on a lone Web site said engine failure was the culprit.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.