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F-16 runs off runway - landing gear collapses
April 21, 2009 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
An F-16 fighter jet rolled off a runway during a landing at the Ogden-Hinckley Airport, Utah, on Monday afternoon while simulating an emergency landings.
The jet #89-2134 had been diverted to the Ogden airport after an earlier problem closed an airstrip at Hill Air Force Base.
The F-16 was one of eight that were diverted from Hill Air Force Base where originally the low-fuel training landings were supposed to take place. However, as an aircraft blew a tire on that runway, it made landing there impossible. So, they chose the closest airport: Ogden Hinckley.
During the exercise, one jet apparently had some braking issues and went off the runway, causing its landing gear to collapse.
"Apparently he was unable to stop the aircraft before the end of the runway. When he got off the runway, the nose gear collapsed as a mechanical failure because it's not used to running off the road like that," explained Col. Scott Dennis, commander of the 388 Fighter Wing. "The fact that he recovered safely and the aircraft is basically intact is probably a testament to our training."
The commander says the issue had nothing to do with the length of Ogden's runway. He said it's 8,000 feet, long enough to land an F-16 safely.
The damaged plane has been moved off the runway, and no major injuries have been reported. A panel will investigate the cause, Air Force officials said.
A crane on Tuesday afternoon hoists F-16C block 40 #89-2134 from the 421st FS that was stranded at Ogden-Hinckley Airport after it slid off the runway and its front landing gear collapsed on April 20th, 2009. The jet will remain in a hangar at the Ogden airport until repaired. It was one of eight F-16s belonging to the 388th FW at Hill AFB that were forced to land at the airport Monday after another jet blew a tire and was stuck on the runway at the base. [Photo by Djamila Grossman]
The F-16 was one of eight that were diverted from Hill Air Force Base where originally the low-fuel training landings were supposed to take place. However, as an aircraft blew a tire on that runway, it made landing there impossible. So, they chose the closest airport: Ogden Hinckley.
During the exercise, one jet apparently had some braking issues and went off the runway, causing its landing gear to collapse.
"Apparently he was unable to stop the aircraft before the end of the runway. When he got off the runway, the nose gear collapsed as a mechanical failure because it's not used to running off the road like that," explained Col. Scott Dennis, commander of the 388 Fighter Wing. "The fact that he recovered safely and the aircraft is basically intact is probably a testament to our training."
The commander says the issue had nothing to do with the length of Ogden's runway. He said it's 8,000 feet, long enough to land an F-16 safely.
The damaged plane has been moved off the runway, and no major injuries have been reported. A panel will investigate the cause, Air Force officials said.
Additional images:
Captured in the sun is USAF F-16C block 40 #89-2134 operated by the 421st FS at Hill AFB and photographed on June 25th, 2006. [Photo by Duane Kaiser]
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