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F-16 Fighting Falcon News

Arizona ANG F-16 clips power lines

September 27, 2003 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Last Thursday, an ANG F-16 flying too low during an attempt to make a touch-and-go maneuver at Libby Army Airfield clipped power lines along the highway. The jet severed one wire, hurling it into the highway and damaging two passing vehicles.
The F-16D, part of the Tucson Air National Guard 162nd Fighter Wing based out of Tucson International Airport, was coming back from a training mission and making its approach to the airfield about 1:50 p.m. when the incident occurred.

According to whitnesses, the plane was so low that passing vehicles swerved for fear of being hit.

The jet tore out a few hundred feet of line which damaged two cars. Neither driver was injured.

Also, none of the two crew members - an instructor pilot and a student pilot - were injured. It was not disclosed who was in control of the plane when the incident happened but regardless of who was flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the instructor pilot is ultimately responsible.

The F-16 was flown back to the Air National Guard base in Tucson. Upon landing, it was discovered the aircraft had some structural damage.

The instructor pilot was Lt. Col. Robert L. Paradis but the name of the student pilot, who is from a country in Europe, will not be released until the man's embassy gives permission.

The jet clipped the lines exactly where multi-colored balls to alert pilots of the lines were located. All power outages were restored within the hour.