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Newbie Joined: Apr 02, 2007 Posts: 12 Status: Offline

It just goes to show you that its rarely a major malfunction that sends a jet in the dirt, but a series of smaller events that lead to the accident.

The difference between between aircraft maintainers and bulldozer mechanics isnt skill, but the integrity to follow Tech Data when nobody is looking, and when you have changed a nose tire 100 times.

Thank the Lord the pilot got out....

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Elite 2K Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Posts: 2096 Status: Offline

As the Accident Report says, "The MP [mishap pilot - J.J.] commanded the 13th EFS". Exclamation

My two cents.

First of all, thanks for all those who make this site possible, because where else can you readily find out information like this as soon as it’s released. This site continues to supplement my ever-increasing knowledge of the Viper.

Secondly, It’s a sad shame anytime something like this happens and I feel very sorry for all involved. From my experience a tire that looks low is at least 100 psi lower than what it should be. Also I find it hard to blame the pilot for misinterpreting an engine failure. Bolting down the runway at a high rate of speed with a heavy jet and bang, vibration, and decel? I think snap to idle is what anyone would have done.

Now I know why we have to check tires physically instead of visually before every tow, this is the incident that must have created the T.O. change.

Elite 2K Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Posts: 2096 Status: Offline

Yesterday, I posted:

J.J. wrote:

As the Accident Report says, "The MP [mishap pilot - J.J.] commanded the 13th EFS". Exclamation

This report exactly states: "3. BACKGROUND: The MP commanded the 13 EFS."

And this report also states:

"8. Crew Qualifications --- a. Mishap Pilot: The MP had good flying continuity. His previous flight in an F-16CJ was on 13 July 2007. (Tab T4) The MP had 2374.7 total hours with 2345.6 hours in the F-16. [...]"

Please understand! I will never blame the mishap pilot, but please let us documenting all available public info for the history books - at least on F-16.net!

Latest known official USAF pictures of the pilot:

Senior member Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 472

Like they say.

Quote:

"Kick the tires and light the fires"

In other words you're supposed to check the tire pressure and condition before doing a start

I'm sure the pilot is a great, however I feel he might not have done a good walk around/ preflight. Even the best, are not perfect.

ATFS_Crash wrote:

Like they say.

Quote:

"Kick the tires and light the fires"

In other words you're supposed to check the tire pressure and condition before doing a start

I'm sure the pilot is a great, however I feel he might not have done a good walk around/ preflight. Even the best, are not perfect.

Do pilots receive specially calibrated eyes upon graduation of UPT?

Yes they do. Where have you been?

Senior member Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 472

akruse21 wrote:

Do pilots receive specially calibrated eyes upon graduation of UPT?

I suppose the expression "Kick the tires and light the fires" means that only a visual inspection is acceptable. Some of us old-timers actually touch and feel,and listen things. (environment, conditions and type of craft permitting)

Not sure of your background but have you ever "touched" a fighter tire? Short of applying a press on gauge on that sucker, or its incredibly low, a visual inspection won't tell you much.

Senior member Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 472

I'm an old-timer, that isn't afraid of getting his hands dirty.

akruse21 wrote:

a visual inspection won't tell you much.

That was my point. I wasn't the one that was suggesting a visual inspection, you were with your straw arguments.
IE:

akruse21 wrote:

Do pilots receive specially calibrated eyes upon graduation of UPT?

I was the one that was insisting that there should be more then a visual inspection.
IE:

ATFS_Crash wrote:

I suppose the expression "Kick the tires and light the fires" means that only a visual inspection is acceptable. Some of us old-timers actually touch and feel,and listen things. (environment, conditions and type of craft permitting)

The nose tire can be as high as 350(hot shot) or as low as 180 and you cant tell a damm thing. Sure maybe with some weight on 5a/b you can see it earlier... problem is 16's fly all day with pressures high and beyond low and don't blow. Same goes with tire wear... here in Norway we fly to the red on everything. With no problems, now have an American Pro Super see a tire on #5 and he will tell you your jet almost crashed.

Did anyone catch the amount of people that saw this tire within its last 6 hours..

I would love to see this photo that all the "experts" can clearly see it being low. Because if it is that clear in a photo taken from a distance, the pilot should start flying a desk and the ground crew should get promoted to a non-er job in the tool crib. If not then every unit in the AF should receive a member of this panel for the sole purpose of checking tires.

Senior member Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 472

ViperKeeper wrote:

I would love to see this photo that all the "experts" can clearly see it being low. Because if it is that clear in a photo taken from a distance...

That's strange I don't recall the report language being that strong. I don't see any part of the report that suggests that it was “clear” in the photo. I suspect it was subject to some expert analysis and interpretation. I agree that there should be some skepticism, however you seem to be projecting things into the report that's not there.

Are you drawing this language from the report or someone else's post or a news article? Could you give me a phrase of such language, and tell me what section of the report or article or post it is in? Or are you just being melodramatic?

Edit:
Clarified my comment was in reference to the language about ViperKeeper’s clarity claims of the photo in question.

Ummm.... Flat?

Poke

I remember we once had a guy that had admitted to our chief that they were not popping all the tires on mid shift and pencil whipping the tire checks. His a$$ was out the squadron in in the mobility flight that same day.

What a dumb a$$!! Slap

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