ACC releases F-16 accident report

  • Published
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) --  Air Force investigators have determined engine failure caused an F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft to crash Sept. 11 during a basic surface attack training sortie.

The F-16C was destroyed upon impact 1,300 feet short of the runway at the Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport in Hattiesburg, Miss. The pilot ejected safely and sustained minor injuries.

The aircraft was assigned to the Alabama Air National Guard's 160th Fighter Squadron at Montgomery ANG Base, Ala.

According to an Air Combat Command accident investigation report released Feb. 19, the primary cause of the accident was the failure of the high-pressure turbine post, allowing the HPT blades to break free and damage the engine. (Courtesy of ACC News Service)