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Thank Goodness The Pilot Is Okay.

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PhillyGuy wrote:

Pardon the civilian but how can you "crash" during take off?

In deployed locations such as Balad and Kabul (Etc) foreign objects "FOD" is a common thing on the taxi-ways and runways. (Rocks, trash, etc) The conditions around the runway, the high winds, and the poor construction all lead to dangerous debris in the path of the aircraft. It is quite possible something was ingested by the engine, and when throttled up for takeoff, or some point soon there after, the engine failed. Crying or Very sad

This could end up being an attempted takeoff abort, or an actual crash from flight..... who knows?

As V2 pointed out a bird-strike (also FOD) can also kill a Viper on takeoff if the bird is large enough. (In my experience GEs tend to react more violently to FOD than PWs.)

Tire failure (or landing gear) can also cause this type of situation if the aircraft is still on the wheels but not at takeoff speed. (Concorde crash on takeoff for example)

Remember, takeoff is the first few moments of any flight. Problems with the aircraft, or engine as it is being used at MAX, will become very evident very quickly.

DISCLAIMER: this too is not a 'guess' or 'rumor' about this particular incident but an educated reason on how a jet can "crash on takeoff." It is purely based on a generic scenario.

F-16.net Editor Joined: Sep 23, 2003 Posts: 2862

Just happy the pilot is OK.

Hope the airframe wasn't anyone's favorite. Laughing

Enthusiast Joined: Jun 09, 2005 Posts: 49 Status: Offline

Yes I can't wait for the disclosure on it my guess mechanical or bird strike since it was on base.

Enthusiast Joined: Jun 09, 2005 Posts: 49 Status: Offline

In deployed locations such as Balad and Kabul (Etc) foreign objects "FOD" is a common thing on the taxi-ways and runways. (Rocks, trash, etc) The conditions around the runway, the high winds, and the poor construction all lead to dangerous debris in the path of the aircraft. It is quite possible something was ingested by the engine, and when throttled up for takeoff, or some point soon there after, the engine failed. Crying or Very sad

Yes it is I was there for an AEF recently this year and the taxiways etc were horrible even though there is fod shakers etc people would sometimes just roll over and take off especially at night or drive off the taxiway and back on etc and not check tires or sweep up the area. We had to run the FOD boss 24 hours a day and the sweepers were called constaintly. I know QA and Airfield tried to keep a handle on it and they did a good job for the huge area they had to watch. For anyone that has been to Balad during MUDCON times know what I mean. Very Happy

Elite 1K Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 1124 Status: Offline

Quote:

As V2 pointed out a bird-strike (also FOD) can also kill a Viper on takeoff if the bird is large enough. (In my experience GEs tend to react more violently to FOD than PWs.)

Don't recall many birds, though there are in fact rabbits, which caused 1 IFE... 88-0428s brake fire.

Elite 3K Joined: May 10, 2004 Posts: 3098 Status: Offline

Glad the pilot got out of this one OK Thumb

!!!

I'll kick back and wait for the accident report on this one. I couldn't ever have seen the cause of the jet that went down by Nellis due to a briefcase being stuck behind the throttle...

Elite 2K Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Posts: 2103 Status: Offline

Nice to hear the pilot is already released from hospital! And special thanks to his guardian angel!!! Wink

Asif wrote:

Further update has the jet being a block 50 from the 13th EFS

332nd AEW wrote:

by Master Sgt. Steve Horton
332nd AEW Public Affairs

7/15/2007 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- A U.S. Air Force F-16CJ Fighting Falcon Block 50 assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's 13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here, crashed during takeoff Sunday. [...]

Because the 13th EFS took over all twelve Misawa jets which were already deployed with the 14th EFS for the previous AEF 5/6 (Cycle 6) rotation, the crashed Viper is either from the 14th FS or from the 13th FS. Already identified as deployed (by released USAF photos) are the following ten Misawa Vipers:

90-0803 Block 50 14th FS
90-0808 Block 50A 14th FS
90-0812 Block 50A 14th FS (marked 14 FS)
90-0819 Block 50B 14th FS
90-0822 Block 50B 14th FS
92-3884 Block 50P 13th FS
92-3886 Block 50P 14th FS
92-3897 Block 50P 13th FS
92-3901 Block 50P 13th FS
92-3913 Block 50P 13th FS (marked 13 FS)

(See: <a href="http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-4207.html">Balad Air Base Deployment Update</a>)

Anybody from Misawa who can/will tell us the serial numbers of the two unidentified jets?

I am so thankful he is OK, my son-in-law is with the 13th at Balad and when I first read this article my heart froze, until I saw that the pilot ejected safely.

Elite 2K Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Posts: 2103 Status: Offline

Welcome to the forum, Sir! Is your son-in-law a 13th FS pilot or is he assigned to other duties within the 13th FS? If your not willing talk about that in the open forum, please send me a PM. Thanks!

Quote:

I am so thankful he is OK

Madam,

We all concur …I have a son enlisted active duty AF, however he is not over there “yet”

I’m retired, my dad is retired, but I know where you are coming from … I would be devastated if I read something over the internet (a most powerful tool) pertaining to an incident before the DoD notified me through the proper channels.

Ltmousseman wrote:

I am so thankful he is OK, my son-in-law is with the 13th at Balad and when I first read this article my heart froze, until I saw that the pilot ejected safely.

I almost forgot ... Kudos to the Egress and Life Support Techs who maintain that seat Applause

Quote:

"Welcome to the forum, Sir! Is your son-in-law a 13th FS pilot or is he assigned to other duties within the 13th FS? If you not will talk about that in the open forum, please send me a PM. Thanks!"

Thanks for your concern, Yes, He is a pilot with the 13thFS. My daughter who is also a AF Captain (Intel) is also in Iraq, though she is not at the same base, can't say more. I'm sure your understand

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 12, 2005 Posts: 1581 Status: Offline

Hello all,

According several news articles the aircraft in question was assigned to the 13th FS. If that is the fact one of these four below must be the aircraft in question.

Quote:

92-3884 Block 50P 13th FS
92-3897 Block 50P 13th FS
92-3901 Block 50P 13th FS
92-3913 Block 50P 13th FS (marked 13 FS)

It is, however, not clear if "assigned" means a red tail of the 13th FS or a yellow tail borrowed from the 14th FS!!

Greetings,

Henrik.

Elite 1K Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 1124 Status: Offline

I think they mean the pilot is 13th assigned, not necessarily the jet.

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Fourth F-16 crash in Iraq - pilot ejected safely