ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 237532
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| Date: | Tuesday 30 June 2020 |
| Time: | 22:59 LT |
| Type: |  Lockheed F-16CM Fighting Falcon |
| Owner/operator: | US Air Force (USAF) 20th FW, 77th FS |
| Registration: | 94-0043 |
| MSN: | CC-195 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Shaw AFB (SSC/KSSC), SC -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Sumter-Shaw AFB, SC (SSC/KSSC) |
| Sumter-Shaw AFB, SC (SSC/KSSC) | |
| Investigating agency: | USAF AIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
On 30 June 2020, the pilot, flying F-16CM tail number 94-0043, assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base (AFB), South Carolina, was engaged in a night mission qualification training (MQT) flight near Shaw AFB. During the recovery and landing phase of the mission, at approximately 22:26 local time, the aircraft’s landing gear was damaged in an initial landing attempt at Shaw AFB. In a subsequent landing attempt, at approximately 22:59, the aircraft departed the runway and the pilot was fatally injured during an unsuccessful ejection.
The mishap flight was planned as a 4-ship night MQT suppression of enemy air defenses mission with pre-strike air-to-air refueling from a KC-135. The first three F-16s of the mishap flight, which included the flight lead, wingman, and element lead (MEL) refueled without incident. However, the pilot of 94-0043 was unable to refuel, requiring the element lead and pilot to return to Shaw AFB. During the final phase of landing on runway 22R, the aircraft struck the localizer antenna array short of the runway threshold, severely damaging the left main landing gear. After briefly touching down in the underrun, the MP executed a go-around and alerted the MEL and air traffic control personnel of the situation. Following more than twenty minutes of discussion between the supervisor of flying (SOF), the MEL, and pilot it was decided to attempt an approach-end cable arrestment on runway 04L. During the maneuver, the aircraft’s tail hook did not catch the cable and the left wing fell to the runway, dragging the aircraft to the left. The pilot ejected from the aircraft, but the ejection seat malfunctioned and the parachute did not deploy. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
The Accident Investigation Board (AIB) President found by a preponderance of evidence the cause of the mishap was the pilot’s failure to correctly interpret the approach lighting system and identify the runway threshold during his first landing attempt, which resulted in severely damaged landing gear. Additionally, the AIB President found by a preponderance of evidence two factors substantially contributed to the mishap:
(a) the SOF chose not to consult the aircraft manufacturer, which resulted in the decision to attempt a cable arrestment in lieu of a controlled ejection and
(b) a series of ejection seat malfunctions occurred, which resulted in the MP impacting the ground while still in the ejection seat.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.stripes.com/news/us/f-16-crashes-at-shaw-air-force-base-in-south-carolina-1.635798
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2020/07/01/pilot-killed-in-f-16cm-fighting-falcon-crash-at-shaw-air-force-base/
https://www.wistv.com/2020/07/01/shaw-afb-officials-investigating-f-aircraft-crash-base/
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/34537/f-16-crashes-at-shaw-air-force-base-in-south-carolina
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/06/19/air-force-knew-it-had-ejection-seat-problem-didnt-speed-fix-then-pilot-died.html
https://cdn.planespotters.net/46586/00-0221-usaf-united-states-air-force-general-dynamics-f-16-fighting-falcon_PlanespottersNet_958051_ce404a59c4_o.jpg (photo)
https://www.afjag.af.mil/Portals/77/AIB-Reports/2020/June/F-16%20Mishap%20AIB%2030%20June%202020%20Shaw%20AFB%20(ACC).pdf
Media:
USAF F-16 pilot dies after crashing at Shaw Air Force base in South Carolina. https://t.co/feewjvUiZk pic.twitter.com/aKCqaTjpTE
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@breakingavnews) July 1, 2020
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 01-Jul-2020 06:04 | gerard57 | Added |
| 01-Jul-2020 06:16 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 01-Jul-2020 06:24 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Jul-2020 06:40 | Aerossurance | Updated [Phase, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Jul-2020 08:20 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 01-Jul-2020 08:20 | RobertMB | Updated [Total fatalities] |
| 01-Jul-2020 11:16 | Captain Adam | Updated [Narrative] |
| 01-Jul-2020 16:14 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 21-Jul-2020 12:56 | RobertMB | Updated [Registration, Cn, Phase, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 16-Nov-2020 18:08 | rvargast17 | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 19-Nov-2020 10:16 | Sycak | Updated [Operator, Location, Operator] |
| 30-Nov-2020 10:56 | harro | Updated [Time, Narrative, Accident report] |
| 21-Jun-2021 14:53 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Location, Source] |
| 21-Jun-2021 14:54 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator] |
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