May 21, 1998 (by Lieven Dewitte) -
The U.S. Air Force's Air Combat Command has released the Aircraft Accident Investigation Report on the Jan. 8 crash of an F-16 from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in the Utah Test and Training Range.
The cause of the accident according to the Accident Investigation Report was engine failure because of a missing seal. It was determined that work crews failed to install a pressure seal and rebuilt the engine without it during the engine's inspection and repair March-September 1996.
The pilot, Lt. Col. Judson Kelley, ejected safely and the aircraft crashed on the Utah Test and Training Range causing no collateral damage.
