In the annals of aviation history, few maneuvers have captured the imagination and respect of both military personnel and aviation enthusiasts as the iconic “banana pass” executed by Capt. Dale “Snort” Snodgrass in 1988. Snodgrass, who would later tragically perish in a crash in 2021, left an indelible mark on naval aviation lore with his mastery of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, the U.S. Navy’s premier fighter interceptor during the Cold War.
The banana pass itself was a maneuver of high precision and skill. Performed off the USS America, Capt. Snodgrass piloted his F-14 with such dexterity that the aircraft was photographed up on a wing at an 85-degree angle of bank, requiring “a 2-3 g turn” as it passed the carrier’s stern—a moment of dramatic flair and a showcase of the aircraft’s capabilities. As Snodgrass put it, “it’s not risky at all with practice,” highlighting his confident command over the powerful fighter jet.
The photograph of this maneuver became an instant classic. It vividly demonstrated the capabilities of the F-14, which was built as a missile-intercepting force that doubled as an air-to-air combat predator. With its distinctive swept wings, the Tomcat could hit Mach-2.4 speeds and maintain control even at the slow velocities required for carrier landings. Notably, the Tomcat was designed with dogfighting in mind, and it even featured a gun—a response to the missile failures experienced during the Vietnam War.
The F-14 was no stranger to combat, having seen action in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. It was capable of being outfitted with air-to-ground ordnance, making it a versatile asset in the U.S. military’s arsenal. However, it was maneuvers like the banana pass that cemented its reputation as an aviation icon.
Capt. Snodgrass’s journey didn’t end with his time in the Navy. He continued to fly, performing in airshows and even founding Draken International, a company that provided adversarial training to the U.S. military. With over 4,800 hours in the Tomcat and nearly 1,200 carrier landings to his name, Snodgrass epitomized the seasoned fighter pilot—unafraid to critique a fellow pilot or a rule, and supremely confident in his abilities.
In a 2010 article for the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Magazine, author Debbie Gary mentioned that Snodgrass flew the F-14 directly from flight school in 1974 when it was brand new and inexperienced pilots had not yet flown it.
“He was the first in that category to land it on a carrier, both day and night,” Gary wrote. “In 1978 he attended Top Gun, the Navy Fighter Weapons School, which turns the best pilots into instructors. In 1985, he became the Navy’s Fighter Pilot of the Year. The following year, the film Top Gun turned the viewing public into crazed F-14 fans (Snodgrass did a little flying for it), and (aircraft manufacturer) Grumman named him Topcat – Best F-14 Pilot of the Year.”
Snodgrass was the sole occupant of the Marchetti, which crashed and caught fire on takeoff around noon Saturday. No other injuries were reported, and the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
Relevant articles:
– Yes, This F-14 Tomcat ‘Banana Pass’ Photo Is Very Scary and Totally Real, The National Interest, Oct 26, 2023
– Captain Dale “Snort” Snodgrass, 1949-2021, National Air and Space Museum, Aug 28, 2021
– Tributes pour in for flying legend Dale ‘Snort’ Snodgrass after fatal crash Saturday at Lewiston airport, The Spokesman-Review, Jul 25, 2021
– Probable Cause of Snodgrass Crash: Pilot Error, Aviation Pros, Jul 11, 2022