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Ohio ANG F-16 experiences 'in-flight emergency' during landing at 180th FW
March 20, 2024 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
An Ohio National Guard F-16 experienced an "in-flight emergency" during landing at the 180th Fighter Wing in Swanton Wednesday at 11.20h. The pilot exited the aircraft safely.
It is currently unknown what led to the incident, but the 180th said the emergency is under further investigation.
The 180th Fighter Wing - the only F-16 fighter wing in the state of Ohio - was scheduled to conduct an air defense exercise over eastern Michigan between 08.00h and 11.00h, according to a press release issued from the base Wednesday.
Judging by the photo it appears to be the Wing commanders aircraft 89-2098. The jet is damage largely to the right wing and wing tip while the external fuel tank on the right side is destroyed. It is unclear if the nose gear collapsed or was buried in the mud. So it could be damaged below the intake lip and radome. Hopefully not a lot of soil sucked into the intake to foul the engine. It is unlikely a total loss but it is too early to say when work would start and when it could be completed.
Winds at the time were high and may have been a contributing factor.
Credit: Joe Meier
The 180th Fighter Wing - the only F-16 fighter wing in the state of Ohio - was scheduled to conduct an air defense exercise over eastern Michigan between 08.00h and 11.00h, according to a press release issued from the base Wednesday.
Judging by the photo it appears to be the Wing commanders aircraft 89-2098. The jet is damage largely to the right wing and wing tip while the external fuel tank on the right side is destroyed. It is unclear if the nose gear collapsed or was buried in the mud. So it could be damaged below the intake lip and radome. Hopefully not a lot of soil sucked into the intake to foul the engine. It is unlikely a total loss but it is too early to say when work would start and when it could be completed.
Winds at the time were high and may have been a contributing factor.
Additional images:
USAF F-16C block 42 #89-2098 from the 112th FS is parked as first on the flightline at Ellington Field ANGB marked '180FW'. [Photo by Cristopher A. Ebdon]
USAF F-16C block 42 #89-2098 assigned to the 112th FS and marked as the Commander's jet seen transient at Luke AFB in February of 1997. [Photo by Kevin Patrick]
USAF F-16C block 42 #89-2098 from the 112th FS (marked as 180 FW) releases a GBU-12 during Northern Edge 06 on June 14th, 2006. Northern Edge is a joint training exercise hosted by the Alaskan Command. [USAF photo by MSgt. Rob Wieland]