Algumas fontes que encontrei alegando que o evento era real:
A flat spin creates a low-pressure area and stalls the canopy when ejected. Producers wanted a midair crash but based this accident on a real-life incident instead.
( source )
The way Goose died was actually based on a real life incident that happened to a 14 crew in the Navy. Don't remember the specifics, just found this out recently while reading an article in one of last months flying mags (not Flying)
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I have a photo of the 'real' Goose and it's true that he died of seat ejections but not exactly like the movie.
( fonte , com fotos)
Há também uma entrevista de Steven C. Schallhorn, que aparentemente foi um dos principais instrutores entrevistados para o filme:
Dr. Schallhorn said during his interview for the movie, he explained how a flat spin could actually happen with an F-14 and that it complicates ejection. "The aerodynamics of the F-14 flat spin affect the timing of the ejection sequence," Dr. Schallhorn said. "The canopy is jettisoned, followed by the ejection of the back seat, followed by the front seat. In a flat spin, the canopy, when it ejects, bobbles for an extra few hundredths of a second above the aircraft. That upsets the carefully engineered sequence because the guy in the back could then hit the canopy. That sequence made it into the movie."
( fonte )