ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 46239
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Wednesday 13 November 2002 |
| Time: | 14:00 LT |
| Type: |  General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon |
| Owner/operator: | 466th TFSqn /419th TFWg USAF |
| Registration: | 88-0397 |
| MSN: | 5C-611 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | 25 miles NE of Wendover, Tooele County, Utah -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Hill AFB, Utah (HIF/KHIF) |
| Hill AFB, Utah (HIF/KHIF) | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
F‑16C 88-0397 of 466th FS, 419th FW crashed 13 November 2002 during a combat training mission. Crashed over the Utah Test and Training Range, 25 miles north east of Wendover, Tooele County, Utah.
While flying over Utah salt flats, the pilot was not aware of how close he was to the ground, as there was a layer of very calm water, which made a mirror like image, making it difficult to judge the distance to the ground.
The official USAF report into the incident, attributed the crash to this, plus spatial disorientation, a "diffused" horizon, and the volume of the LAWS (low altitude warning system) being turned down, meaning the the pilot did not hear the "PULL UP PULL UP" audible warnings.
Pilot, Lt. Col. Dillon L. McFarland, killed. He was a very experienced F-16 pilot, with over 3,000 flying hours on the type, including 85 hours under combat conditions. There were no indications that any attempt was made to eject, and the report therefore concluded that the accident was a CFIT (Controller Flight Into Terrain)
Sources:
1. http://www.scramble.nl [Scramble 283]
2. http://web.archive.org/web/20170218164837/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/Aircraft_by_Type/F-16/USAF/f_16_USAF_00s.htm
3. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2003/F-16C_Hill_13Nov02.pdf
4. http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/MCFARLAND/2003-01/1042912819
5. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/949284/AF-pilot-remembered-for-charisma-love-of-life.html
6. http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/airframe-profile/2634/
7. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1988.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Nov-2008 10:35 | ASN archive | Added |
| 20-Nov-2013 07:01 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Nov-2013 18:40 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 16-Feb-2021 09:44 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation