Forum: F-16 News

azcentral wrote:

F-16 catches fire during takeoff
Charlie Pabst, 12 News
Oct. 26, 2006 04:22 PM

An F-16 from Luke Air Force Base caught fire during takeoff today. The pilot ejected safely and is being treated by base medics, according to officials at Luke.

It is unclear at this time what caused the fire.

The pilot was from the 62nd Fighter Squadron based out of Luke in the West Valley.

Base officials say damage was confined to the aircraft on the runway and no other structures on the base were damaged. Base fire crews successfully extinguished the fire.

Source: <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/lukecrash10262006-CR.html">azcentral.com</a>

Despite the characterization of this being a "cockpit fire" from the video, witnesses said it was much further aft. Also, if he ejected, the canopy seems to have reattached itself.

At least the pilot's okay.

Also see the F-16.net news article: <a href="news_article2030.html">Luke F-16C catches fire during takeoff</a>

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The canopy is still installed, Pilot ejected??

PointyHead wrote:

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/lukecrash10262006-CR.html

Quote:

F-16 catches fire during takeoff

Charlie Pabst
12 News
Oct. 26, 2006 04:22 PM

An F-16 from Luke Air Force Base caught fire during takeoff today. The pilot ejected safely and is being treated by base medics, according to officials at Luke.

It is unclear at this time what caused the fire.

The pilot was from the 62nd Fighter Squadron based out of Luke in the West Valley.

Base officials say damage was confined to the aircraft on the runway and no other structures on the base were damaged. Base fire crews successfully extinguished the fire.

Despite the characterization of this being a "cockpit fire" from the video, witnesses said it was much further aft. Also, if he ejected, the canopy seems to have reattached itself.

At least the pilot's okay.

What IS going on at Luke!? Shocked

Isn't this the third incident they have had in as many weeks with Vipers having some sort of trouble on take off? Two different F-16s dropped their tanks after taking off and returned to base and now this. Seems to me like they need to stand down for a few days and have one of those safety refresher time-outs the USAF has every now and again whenever its planes start dropping like flies.

Of course, glad to know the pilot is okay. However, the Viper is looking increasingly flammable these days... Confused

idesof---We have those safety days all the time out here. Safety may have had nothing to do with it. It may well have been a mechanical/electrical problem that no one could control. It also takes away from the sorties since they shut the whole base down for the day - that's about 150 sorties A DAY - Get some facts before you post. On the other hand----I was driving back to base when I saw the smoke cloud and thought it was the fire department doing their practice burns. When I get closer to base I could see the smoke was on the south end of the runway and all could say was here we go again.

Raptor_DCTR wrote:

idesof---We have those safety days all the time out here. Safety may have had nothing to do with it. It may well have been a mechanical/electrical problem that no one could control. It also takes away from the sorties since they shut the whole base down for the day - that's about 150 sorties A DAY - Get some facts before you post.

I have, and I think the facts speak for themselves: three major safety incidents in as many weeks. I haven't heard about Luke having a safety stand-down since these incidents have occurred. I don't think I am being gratuitously concerned considering the frequency and severity of these events.

Well either way, we don't decide on the grounding of the fleet.

Any one know the serial to this aircraft, please post in this thread or use the <a href="http://www.f-16.net/index.php?module=feedback&func=view">'contact us'</a> link.

idesof wrote:

Raptor_DCTR wrote:

idesof---We have those safety days all the time out here. Safety may have had nothing to do with it. It may well have been a mechanical/electrical problem that no one could control. It also takes away from the sorties since they shut the whole base down for the day - that's about 150 sorties A DAY - Get some facts before you post.

I have, and I think the facts speak for themselves: three major safety incidents in as many weeks. I haven't heard about Luke having a safety stand-down since these incidents have occurred. I don't think I am being gratuitously concerned considering the frequency and severity of these events.

Are you at Luke?? They normally don't broadcast to the world that there is a local safety stand down. Rolling Eyes

falconmaintainer wrote:

Are you at Luke?? They normally don't broadcast to the world that there is a local safety stand down. Rolling Eyes

Au contraire. The USAF is usually quite public about its safety stand-downs.

To all Viper maintenance personnel: please don't take this so personally. Who knows why the Viper has become so accident-prone lately. It may be because they are getting old, or because some maintenance personnel are being careless. Or maybe pilots are smoking in the cockpit.

Regardless of the reason, there is cause to be concerned, and no one is blaming the maintainers. At least not yet.

Dude, I am at Luke and no they don't publically release safety standdowns here. If it was Air Force wide, then I could see some public notice of it. But one particular wing taking the day off for safety, probably not. Fact is, I am stationed here, I know what goes on daily, and when we have safety stand downs. These jets are very old (some of the oldest is active duty) and that, in my opinion, is why we are having problems. Except for the 63rd bird that dropped the tanks, that is a "newer" jet.

Raptor_DCTR wrote:

Dude, I am at Luke and no they don't publically release safety standdowns here. If it was Air Force wide, then I could see some public notice of it. But one particular wing taking the day off for safety, probably not. Fact is, I am stationed here, I know what goes on daily, and when we have safety stand downs. These jets are very old (some of the oldest is active duty) and that, in my opinion, is why we are having problems. Except for the 63rd bird that dropped the tanks, that is a "newer" jet.

Thanks for the lowdown on no standown. I think you're probably right: the birds are getting old. If this is not a justification for the F-35 I don't know what is, even as I keep reading that our F-16s and F-15s are more than a match for any air force. Perhaps, but between the ground and an F-16 plummeting at 500 mph, I'll put my money on the ground winning every time.

Roger, the F-16 is awesome bird but it time has come and now quickly fading. It's a shame but it's time for a new invertory.

The jet from the 63rd that dropped the tanks on takeoff the other day, did so on purpose. He had a burn through on the augmenter and as part of emergency procedures punched off his wing tanks. I am also stationed at Luke and I'm going to have to agree with fixinaviper on this one, we do have a lot of down days for safety and they are not announced to everyone. In fact we probably have more safety days then anyone else in the AF because we're AETC. As for the incidents in the past few days I'm sure if they thought that our maintenance practices were to blame I'm sure they would cancel flying in a heart beat.

And a big "Roger that one"

I believe this was the acft that caught on fire at luke. 84-1296. I hear its to the boneyard now.

Just to clarify something. First the news said the pilot ejected, well we know that didn't happen. Second the F-16.net article says he landed safely. The jet actually was on takeoff, he aborted and shutdown at eor.

Forum: F-16 News

F-16 fire on takeoff at Luke