F-16 Fighting Falcon News

November 14, 2011 (by Asif Shamim) - Headquarters Pacific Air Forces released the results of its investigation into a July 29, 2011, ground collision of two F-16CM aircraft at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, directed an investigation into the incident.

The accident investigation board found clear and convincing evidence the cause of the mishap was the pilot's failure to properly monitor his aircraft's position relative to the aircraft in front of him, due to a breakdown in visual scan, task mis-prioritization, and channelized attention. The investigation also found that overconfidence and excessive motivation to succeed contributed to the mishap.

The incident occurred as a flight of four F-16s was taxiing to the runway of Kunsan AB for takeoff on an Operational Readiness Exercise sortie. The pilot of the first aircraft stopped on the taxiway as part of a standard check of the Radar Warning Receiver. The second and third aircraft in the formation stopped behind the first. However, the pilot of the fourth aircraft (#90-0717) was accomplishing additional aircraft systems checks while taxiing and failed to notice that the third aircraft (#90-0733) was stopped in front of him until it was too late to avoid colliding.

The fourth aircraft received damage totaling slightly more than $2 million, and the third aircraft in the formation received just under $590,000 in damage. Neither pilot was injured nor was there damage to property or other aircraft.

Colonel Matthew R. Dana served as the Accident Investigation Board president. He is the chief of the combat plans division at the 613th Air Operations Center, 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The colonel is a command pilot with more than 2,450 flight hours, primarily in the F-16.