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Officials release F-16 accident report

June 30, 2004 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Pilot error caused two F-16 Fighting Falcons to collide March 9, during a training mission over the Atlantic Ocean about 35 miles southeast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., according to a report Air Force officials released June 15.
Both aircraft landed safely at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the pilots were uninjured. The aircraft, assigned to the base's 79th Fighter Squadron, sustained combined damage estimated at $208,000.

The collision occurred during a basic fighter maneuver engagement. The investigation found improper task prioritization and channelized attention led to one pilot's failure to control the distance between the two aircraft.

Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service

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