Sometimes when aircraft systems designers integrate various components into an airframe they forget to examine what happens if a component should fail. Such was the case in the original F-16 design. An electrical connector (cannon plug) came loose on an F-16 and unfortunately the wiring for some similar critical components all went through the same connector. Brakes, arrestor hook, etc. After this accident they changed the electrical schematic and wiring harness so that those features went through different connectors now. Pilot attempted to land the aircaft and engage the arrestor wires. Both wires were missed and the aircraft went off the end of the runway. Pilot stayed with the aircraft and the rescue crews had to cut through the canopy to reach the pilot. Hole in canopy can be seen in the photo.

Suffered a broken throttle incident, but landed safely. The incident was caused by faulty maintenace. The jet had less than 100 flying hours when during an engine change the throttle quadrant was not connected during a test run. The fuel quadrant was set to first stage of AB but without throttle control, once the engine started there was no stopping it (main fuel shutoff valve control was also disconnected). The plane shot across the ramp, ripped all main gear off crossing a ditch and was airborne for close to 200ft before it bellied in and FOD'ed out the engine. The wings were removed and the jet was trucked back to the GD factory for repairs.

Destroyed in a crash on Utah Test & Training Range killing the pilot, Lieutenant Colonel W. Roy Neisz.

Crashed near McEntire ANGB, South Carolina killing the pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Yeadon D. Dorn.

Crashed on Utah Test & Training Range. A little over a month earlier the same squadron, lost another F-16 on the same location.

Destroyed in a crash on Utah Test & Training Range. The pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Anderson, was killed.

Crashed near Linz, Germany in a housing area. No civilian was killed or hurt, but a house was seriously damaged. Unfortunately, the pilot, 1st Lieutenant P. Enzerink, didn't manage to bail out and was killed in the accident. The wingman returned home safely.

Crashed at the airport in Bartow, Florida. Pilot ejected safely.

Collided over Fyn Island, Denmark, with F-16B (78-0211, ET-211) during a NATO exercise ‘Blue Moon’ near Assens. The aircraft was flown by Lieutenant Egon Christensen and the back-seat rider was aircraft technician SA Flemming Mortensen. Both crewmembers ejected but hit the canopy and didn't survive. The aircraft were flying in close formation in low altitude with ET-209 in front. During a turn the pilot in ET-211 misunderstood the instructions from the formation leader and collided with ET-209 during the turn.

Collided over Fyn Island, Denmark, with F-16B (78-0209, ET-209) during a NATO exercise ‘Blue Moon’ near Assens. The pilot, Captain Ole Bria Lessel, ejected safely. He was the only one aboard. The aircraft were flying in close formation in low altitude with ET-209 in front. During a turn the pilot in ET-211 misunderstood the instructions from the formation leader and collided with ET-209 during the turn.

Impacted the ground near Vilaruengo, Spain. Pilot, 1st Lieutenant Scott Trapp, was killed in the mishap.

The pilot, Lt. Col. Ytzhak, lost control over his aircraft.

Destroyed in a crash while flying over the Helchteren range, Belgium which killed both crew, Captain Henri De Wageneer and Slt. Dirk Ponsaerts.

It is speculated that Major Glenn Hessel had a heart attack during the flight. What is known is that his wing man, who was flying beside him, said that he was slumped over and was not responding to radio calls. Aircraft was in augmentor when it hit the ground. Squadron mates say he was very well liked in the unit.