March 24, 1998 (by Lieven Dewitte) -
An F-16 pilot ejected safely before his plane crashed onto a runway during an attempted landing at Hill Air Force Base. The pilot, Lt. Col. John Burgess, was treated at the base hospital for minor injuries.
Burgess had flown a night surface attack tactics mission over the Utah Test and Training Range and was returning to the base at the time of the incident. He radioed ahead to air traffic control warning of mechanical problems. Moments later, the pilot ejected. The extent of the damage to the plane was unknown.
A mishap board is investigating the cause of the accident.
