F-16 Fighting Falcon News

October 1, 2007 (by Bruce Rolfsen) - Pilot error is the cause cited for the crash of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a March 12 training flight off the South Florida coast.
The Air Force Reserve pilot, Maj. Timothy B. Piccin of the 93rd Fighter Squadron, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., safely ejected from the jet and, after spending about an hour in the water, was rescued by a Navy team onboard an SH-60F helicopter.

An accident investigation board report issued Friday concluded that Piccin lost control of the $20 million jet (#87-0380) as he tried to pull up while in a simulated air-to-air fight with another F-16. When Piccin tried to pull up, the jet's speed was between 130 mph and 165 mph, slow for a fighter. Complicating the maneuver was the fact the jet was flying with an empty fuel tank under the fuselage, which moved the jets center of gravity toward the rear.

Board president Col. Ozzie H. Gorbitz noted that F-16s pilots are aware that sudden maneuvers in a slow F-16 configured like Piccin's jet could lead to the jet going out of control.

The slow speed and rearward center or gravity meant that when Piccin pulled back the stick to climb, the plane unexpectedly turned to the left and pitched downward. Piccin tried to regain control of the jet, but as the jet descended past 3,500 feet, he realized that even if he was able to bring the jet under control, it would likely be too low to avoid hitting the water. At that point, Piccin ejected.