F-16 Aircraft Database

Damaged beyond repair in an aborted takeoff from Shaw AFB after multiple bird strike. The pilot was injured in the mishap. Eye witness account by Scott Gandy "I witnessed the mishap from in front of Hanger 1200. Aircraft had birdstrikes right after rotation, pilot then planted airplane on runway and attempted a departure-end barrier engagement. The cable bounced after being run over by the NLG wheel and struck the C/L tank, rupturing it. The spilling fuel was then ignited. The pilot ran the canopy up, over and down the radome he went. It seemed like the jet burned up in two minutes."

On 4 Jan 89 I launched 84-1228 which burned on the runway after ingesting two birds on takeoff. Anti-skid was not selected and the wheels & tires ground down to the axles. Final report said arresting cable tore the C/L tank open (I think tank made ground contact from all the visible marks on the remaining underside). Pilot was not injured and ran from aircraft. Forrest Gump's got nothing on pilots egressing a burning jet. Same on an F-111 fire I was at too. "Run Forrest!" - All the skin below the wing level was gone. At a cost of $18M the jet was not rebuilt. - I removed just about every salvageable part from the cockpit. WISH I HAD THE ID PLATE. ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET IT? Where did the jet go to after Shaw? - Couldn't get one flippin' screw out of the stab actuator panels to recover the ISAs.