F-16 Aircraft Database

The pilot, Major Aaron George and Lockheed photographer Judson Brohmer were killed. Incident occurred at 7:00 hours about 30 miles east of China Lake. The F-16 was flying a photo/safety chase position on a 2nd F-16 on a test mission to demonstrate reliability improvements on a MALD (Miniature Air Launch Decoy). Following the launch of the MALD, the MALD's engine failed. The MALD descended at a 20 degree angle until 8,996 feet where a drogue shoot deployed followed by a recovery parachute at 7,000 feet. It drifted into mountainous terrain. The mishap aircraft was collecting video coverage of the MALD's launch, recovery, and landing. In order to maintain optimum position for video taping the MALD, the pilot had to execute barrel roll maneuvers to avoid passing the MALD. As the MALD's drogue shoot deployed, the mishap pilot executed a 3rd barrel roll maneuver, to maintain position which placed him at a steep, inverted, high speed dive that he was unable to recover. The crash was caused by channelized attention on the MALD and loss of altitude awareness.

While flying to an Operation Northern Watch mission an engine failure brought the aircraft down. Captain Michael A. Nelson Jr. ejected safely at 10:09 hours at 11 miles east of Batman, Turkey at 2,000 feet. Rescue was by a HH-60G from 305th RQS. The pilot heared a loud bang followed by a buzzing noise only 35 minutes after take-off. RPM decreased and FTIT increased. He attempted 9 airstarts without success. The cause of the crash was a failure of the number 4 bearing assembly.

Impacted the ground near Gila Bend, Arizona. Pilot, Major Robert P. Egan, ejected safely. Cause was fasteners came loose in the engine and caused a cascade effect which lead to the engine seizing and fire.

Crashed near Parkersburg, Illinois at 14:40 hours. The pilot, Major Patrick Wade, ejected safely. Cause of the crash was that the no. 4 bearing seased.

While completing a circuit on arrival at Barcelona airfield, Venezuela, the aircraft ingested and impacted a turkey vulture. Pilot, Colonel Héctor G. D'Armaz Dugarte (commanding officer of Grupo Aéreo de Caza N°16 at that time), was unable to lower the landing gear. D'Armaz aimed the aircraft away from the airport and ejected safely and only suffered a broken right legg in three places. The airframe came down 165 feet away from the main gate.

Went off the runway during takeoff roll at Hill AFB at 21:50 hours on a night training flight. The aircraft veered off the runway forcing the pilot to eject. Cause was a blown nose gear tire which resulted in loss of directional control. Pilot, Captain Casey J. Tidgewell, sustained only minor injuries. Damage to the aircraft was significant. Cause of the crash was a blown nose wheel which severed important wires and control was lost.

Major Yarema Sos ejected while the landing gear collapsed on touch-down at Luke AFB. The aircraft came down three quarters of the way down the runway. The F-16 was caught in the turbulence of the aircraft before him and hit the ground well over the structural design limit of the aircrafts landing gear system resulting in a collapse.