Thunderbirds accident report released Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) – Pilot error caused a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 aircraft to crash shortly after takeoff at an airshow Sept. 14 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The pilot ejected just before the aircraft impacted the ground.
According to the accident investigation board report released today, the pilot misinterpreted the altitude required to complete the “Split S” maneuver. He made his calculation based on an incorrect mean-sea-level altitude of the airfield. The pilot incorrectly climbed to 1,670 feet above ground level instead of 2,500 feet before initiating the pull down to the Split S maneuver.
When he realized something was wrong, the pilot put maximum back stick pressure and rolled slightly left to ensure the aircraft would impact away from the crowd should he have! to eject. He ejected when the aircraft was 140 feet above ground - just eight-tenths of a second prior to impact. He sustained only minor injuries from the ejection. There was no other damage to military or civilian property.
The aircraft, valued at about $20.4 million, was destroyed.
Also, the board determined other factors substantially contributed to creating the opportunity for the error including the requirement for demonstration pilots to convert mean sea level and above ground level altitudes and performing a maneuver with a limited margin of error.
Got this information in a forward today, and thought you folks would be intersted.
That pic is awesome. glad he got out and no one was hurt. i was supposed to go to Ramstein with a buddy of mine but we didn’t go cos he had cashflow problems, boy i am glad i didn’t get there, that accident was horrific.
Greg
Go HERE to see in-cockpit video of this accident. Scroll down about a third of the way for the link.
There’s also some links to discussions in the F-16.net forums as well as an extended version of the news item which oldhooker has kindly posted above. Also, there’s a slightly larger version of the above image. What a photo! Damn!
Thanks to Eagle334 for bringing the existence of this clip to my attention! After that it was just a matter of hunting it down…
Ya, the guy used the Nellis altimeter setting vice the local Idaho one. Word on the street is that he was off the team before they returned home. Not sure about the truth to that, but I bet he’ll never forget to get ATIS again.
Was it just me or did anyone else notice that the pilot seemed to be calm and in control all the way until ejection? I mean it’s kinda hard to tell with the visor but he sure seemed to be.
He did a great job of insuring a crash in a non-populated area. [tup]
Watching the fella the only thing you can see for sure is that he went back and forth between the throttle and the zing-ring three times, finally punching out the third time. And yeah, with that visor down and the mask on you obviously couldn’t see his face, but what a story it might have told!
As to the fate of Capt. Stricklin, that’s been the subject of much debate. It’s kinda funny to read some of the discussions on other forums; ignorance and idiocy galore! Some folks are screaming court-martial and all sortsa stupid crap. I don’t think that he’ll fly with the team again, but he’s too valuable an assett to throw away for making a mistake like that. It happens to the best of 'em.
You cand do somehting right a million times over 30 or 40 years and you make one mistake and everyone is a “monday morning” quarterback screaming for your head! With all the technology today we forget people are “human” and make mistakes! I guess that’s why they call them accidents.
Well said Melgyver, I’m sure most of us really can’t cast the first stone as they say. Checked your site, I am familiar with the 174th and the affiliation to the Flying Tigers, and would like to learn more about your squad… I first read God is My Co-Pilot About over 30 yrs. ago! Now I wiil have to find a Huey model and add some teeth. Thanks for your Sevice to Our Country!
Exactly! Too many idiots out there who open their mouths, haven’t a clue as to what the hell they’re talking about, and try to show how much they ‘know’. Quite the opposite is usually the result; BUT life would be a bit more boring otherwise, I guess… [:p]
We lose F-16’s (and other jets) all the time. Even though guys in my line of work usually refer to jet jocks as “ego drivers”, and "little boys with big toys. We usually call them customers, but the bottom line no BS is that they’re doing a mission that requires them to fly on the edge. Especially the demo teams. Pushing things and making for a spectacular show is what they’re SUPPOSED to be doing. Did he make a mistake…yep…will he probably pay a price for it…more than likely…Does he deserve to be castigated and ridiculed by those who don’t know the first thing about his job…ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! The USAF doesn’t teach people to chuck jets, but they do teach the drivers that when you decide to depart the aircraft…do it. This guy did a great job of turning a really bad day with respect to loss of life into a monetary loss for uncle sugar and in my humble opinion, he’s to be commended for it.[tup]
I’m glad to hear so many of the members on this forum feel the same way. It reinforces my decision to join and participate.
dkmacin,
You might like to know that the fireball ended up a couple hundred feet from the base of the tower. Please explain to me how ANY aspect of this crash can be atributed to the NCO manning the tower.
Academy has the 1/35th UH-1C “Frog” kit #2196 with decals for two of our Sharks. Look in the Web site for “Rescue of Surfer Crew” under “1971”. Surfer is one of the birds you can build with the decals. If you get the kit there are a few “goofs” with the rotor system. Get in touch then and I’ll give you the fixes.
