ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 46254
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| Date: | Monday 15 April 2002 |
| Time: | 11:29 LT |
| Type: |  General Dynamics F-16CJ-50 Fighting Falcon |
| Owner/operator: | 14th FSqn /35th FWg USAF |
| Registration: | 92-3919 |
| MSN: | CC-161 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | 1.6 miles north east of Tanosawa, Aomori Prefecture -
 Japan
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Misawa AB, Aomori Prefecture (MSJ/RJSM) |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
The aircraft crashed at 11:29 am at about 1.6 miles north east of the town of Tanosawa, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The pilot, Major Chad Miller, ejected from the aircraft with minor injuries.
Approximately 15 minutes after beginning a qualification training upgrade mission, Miller reported an engine problem. He immediately turned toward land and attempted to restart the engine four times without success. He turned the aircraft parallel to the coast away from populated areas and then ejected.
He landed in the water approximately 4,500 feet off shore, his aircraft slamming into the sea about 900 feet from the coast.
He was reportedly unhurt after Kunitaka Yamazaki, a 49-year-old fisherman, was one of a dozen with the Oodose Fishermen's Cooperative in Fukaura, 82 miles west of Misawa Air Base, who raced to help retrieve him. Major Miller floated upon the Sea of Japan in his lifeboat for less than an hour.
The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the water. It is estimated that there were 1,000 gallons of JP-8 fuel aboard the aircraft. Some wreckage reportedly was recovered by local residents after it washed ashore on beaches.
Based on evidence obtained during the investigation, the accident investigation board president's opinion is that a fatigue crack had developed in a high-pressure turbine blade. The crack caused a portion of the blade to fall off that then caused catastrophic damage and failure of the remaining turbine blades. Once the turbines failed, the engine could no longer produce thrust, continue to operate or be restarted.
Sources:
1. http://www.scramble.nl (Scramble 276)
2. http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/airframe-profile/3812/
3. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/F-16CJ_TanosawaJapan_15Apr02.pdf
4. http://www.f-16.net/news_article675.html
5. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1992.html
6. http://web.archive.org/web/20170218164837/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/Aircraft_by_Type/F-16/USAF/f_16_USAF_00s.htm
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Nov-2008 10:35 | ASN archive | Added |
| 01-Oct-2011 21:00 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Nov-2013 03:55 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 16-Feb-2021 10:00 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Operator] |
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