August 2, 2009 (by Lieven Dewitte) -
Mechanics at Des Moines' 132nd Fighter Wing Unit are trying to figure out what forced the F-16 pilot to make a barrier engagement on Saturday afternoon.
Detail of the tailhook on 194th FS F-16C block 25 #85404.
The Viper driver informed air traffic control at around 14:00h that he was experiencing problems with the controls during take-off. The pilot was escorted over a rural area by three additional F-16 jets as he checked the controls on the jet.
The problem eventually pointed to the brakes of the F-16 so as a precaution, the pilot dropped his arrestor hook, which latched onto a steel cable stretched across the runway at Des Moines Airport.
