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Airframe Details for F-16 #85-1423

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F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 85-1423
LM Aero T/V 5C-203
Plant General Dynamics
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 85423
F-16C Block 25F
Current USAF 85423
F-16C Block 25F
Status [w/o]

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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
15 Aug 1986 [act] 85423 F-16C Block 25F
16 Aug 1986 [act] 85423 USAF 312 TFTS 'LF' F-16C Block 25F
04 Dec 1986 [msh] 85423 USAF 312 TFTS 'LF' F-16C Block 25F
This aircraft had a ADG failure on December 4, 1986 had to IFE into Goodyear airport. Student pilot in a four ship formation had to fly around a Beachcraft Bonanza on the runway, touched down and skidded onto the overrun at the end of the runway. The local airport Fire Department put out the fire in the brakes. Aircraft engine was replaced and flew back to Luke on December 8, 1986. No damage to the airframe.
08 Dec 1986 [act] 85423 USAF 312 TFTS 'LF' F-16C Block 25F
Apr 1990 [act] 85423 USAF 422 TES 'WA' F-16C Block 25F
28 Jan 1991 [msh] 85423 USAF 422 TES 'WA' F-16C Block 25F
Crashed 75 miles north of Las Vegas, in the Nevada Desert. The pilot ejected safely. The crash was caused by an engine failure, specifically due to high time engine being installed in the jet to "get more hours out of it" before sending it to depot for major overhaul.
28 Jan 1991 [w/o] 85423 USAF 422 TES 'WA' F-16C Block 25F

Crew Chief Comments

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TSgt. Morris Southern

 Crew Chief Profile
312th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron "Scorpions" , 1986 - 1989
I went to the General Dynamics Factory with the pilot, LTC. Cary (not sure on the spelling) to accept the forms for this aircraft! I was the first assigned Crew Chief on it! I got to launch it out of the factory with 0.4 hours on it! I was the Crew Chief on it when it had to deadstick into Goodyear Airport with an engine failure while flying to the Goldwater range from Luke AFB on Dec the 4th of 1986! We took a MB-4 Coleman and a tow bar from Luke to Goodyear, (about 6 miles South of the base) and towed it off the Goodyear runway! We pulled the engine and sent it to depot to be evaluated and to determine the reason for the eng failure but we never found out! we put another engine in it and our FCF pilot, LTC. Ray Naylor flew it back to Luke on Dec 8 th.


Abbreviations and symbols:
[act] Active [i/a] Instructional Airframe [sto] Stored (e.g. at AMARG)
[cld] Cancelled Order [msh] Involved in Mishap [w/o] Write-off
[con] Converted [o/o] On Order
[des] Destroyed (drone) [pre] Preserved (museum, gateguard) T/V LM Aero Type/Version (Construction) number
[emb] Embargoed [scr] Scrapped Photo Available
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Errors and Omissions

Feb 06, 2012 - 09:44 AM
Aug 86 IFE was actually Dec 4, 1986

I was the crew chief on this jet at Luke when it deadsticked into Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.The jet had a "Pacer" motor in it at the time It was December 4, 1986 when this happened, We changed the motor and flew it back to Luke on December 8. LTC Ray Naylor flew it out of Goodyear and performed an unrestricted climb to 3,000 feet on takeoff due to the fact that we did not have a reason for the failure and he wanted altitude as quick as possible "just in case"! The pilot flying it when it failed was a student on a F-16C/D conversion training flight (number 2 of a 4 ship). The jet had to fly around a Beachcraft Bonanza (also a student pilot) on the runway at the time. The jet flew around and touched down in front of the Beachcraft and skidded all the way onto the overrun at the end of the airport and stopped with the brakes on fire, the airport FD put out the fire. The Beachcraft took off and landed somewhere else with no damage other than some stained seats. Moe Southern Tsgt Ret.





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