F-16 Aircraft Database

A pre-delivery mishap before a test flight occured. When Colonel Sebo, a USAF pilot, started the engine, the right landing gear leg gave way. The plane pointed its nose towards the sky without the pilot being able to understand what was happening to it. The ground technicians even less so. An analysis of the causes revealed a combination of circumstances. During a workshop test, while the plane was on a jack, the hydraulic pressure was cut off too early, during the final phase of the landing gear descent. Before starting the engine, a ground technician had removed a “landing gear safety pin”, as the procedure required him to do. As soon as the engine was started, the hydraulic circuit increased in pressure and unlocked the landing gear. This incident, more comical than serious, highlighted a gap in the procedure. It was immediately modified and passed on to all other users.

Crashed at Havrenne (near Rochefort), Belgium after Captain Etienne De Meulenaer ejected safely

Collided in mid-air with Belgium F-16A (78-0156, FA-41) near Opont, Belgium. Pilot of this aircraft was Lieutenant Roger Uytterhagen

After a flame-out the pilot managed to restart the engine, but crashed nevertheless near Obaix-Buzet, Belgium. The wreck was later used at Florennes for BDRT. Captain Henri Malaise ejected

Crashed near Ville-du-Bois (not far from Vielsalm), Belgium killing pilot Captain Jean-Marie Paul. During a low level interception an actuator from the leading edge automatic flap broke

Destroyed in a mid-air with F-16A (80-3545, FA-54) near Kirgirac, Turkey. The pilot, Captain Guy de Walsche, was killed

Impacted the ground near Bierbeek, Belgium after the pilot, Captain Herman Devos, ejected safely

Collided with another Belgian F-16A (78-0150, FA-35) at 20,000 feet over Wavreille (near Rochefort) in Southern Belgium. Lieutenant Colonel Steve Nuyts, ejected safely. Steve was the leader of the Slivers aerobatic team which operated two F-104G Starfighters

Crashed near Beauvechain, Belgium after a bird strike. Pilot, Captain Louis Wolfs, ejected safely

Impacted the ground at Court St. Etienne, Belgium when Slt. Konrad Pauwels became disorientated and was killed

Crashed after the aircraft suffered an engine flame-out, in Soumoy, Belgium. Lieutenant Roger Uytterhagen ejected safely

Collided with F-16A (FA-52, 80-3543) 30 km South-west of Limoges, France. The pilot, Captain Danny Faye, managed to make an emergency landing at Limoges. Aircraft was repaired

Went down near Maubeuge (Ferrier-La-Petite), France. Pilot, Major Gommaire Van Beneden, ejected safely

Collided with another Belgian F-16A (78-0129, FA-14) near Wavreille (near Rochefort). The pilot of this aircraft, Captain Jean Marie Debaix was killed

Crashed near Dinant, Belgium around 21:30 hours while training for air combat. Captain Frédéric Desirotte did not eject and was killed in the mishap