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Air Force jet collides with Cessna over South Carolina
wapo ^ | July 7 at 2:24 PM | Mark Berman

Posted on 07/07/2015 12:20:00 PM PDT by BenLurkin

The two planes that collided Tuesday morning were an F-16 fighter and a Cessna 150, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which said it is investigating the collision. The accident occurred about 11 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

A spokesman for Berkeley County said the two planes collided over Lewisfield Plantation in Moncks Corner, a town about 45 minutes north of Charleston. The county government said it is setting up a command center in that town, which is near Lake Moultrie.

Debris has been seen on land as well as in the water, officials said Tuesday.

The pilot of the F-16 Fighting Falcon safely ejected, according to a statement from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C., where the aircraft originated. Authorities from the base said it was gathering a team of investigators to determine what happened.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: f16; lawndart; planecrash; usaf
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To: BenLurkin

Cessna may have been in restricted airspace. One report I heard was that jets from the nearby air base train in that area which usually means that private/commercial traffic is restricted during set training times.


21 posted on 07/07/2015 1:19:25 PM PDT by CedarDave (Bush vs. Clinton in 2016? If you have a 24-year old car, the bumper stickers are still good!)
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To: dware
Just off hand, I'd say that the pilots of both crafts attempted to occupy the same space, which didn't work out so well for either. Investigation complete!

When I was an air traffic controller, we called that aluminum showers.

22 posted on 07/07/2015 1:19:52 PM PDT by Mark17 (Thy goodness faileth never. Good shepherd may I sing thy praise, within thy house forever. Amen)
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To: telstar12.5

Once again, what was AV-8 doing at sailplane-riding-ridge-lift altitudes?


23 posted on 07/07/2015 1:20:59 PM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: 2banana

F-16s have RADAR?


24 posted on 07/07/2015 1:23:47 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
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To: CodeToad

Sometimes you’re the windshield....


25 posted on 07/07/2015 1:24:29 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
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To: BenLurkin

Use to fly a 150, it’s a puddle jumper!


26 posted on 07/07/2015 1:27:29 PM PDT by Empireoftheatom48 (God help the Republic but will he?)
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To: telstar12.5

Unpowered aircraft have right-of-way over powered.


27 posted on 07/07/2015 1:28:55 PM PDT by Rodamala
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To: Chainmail

practicing his nap of the earth flying skills (and, later, engine-management skills)


28 posted on 07/07/2015 1:38:08 PM PDT by telstar12.5 (...always bring gunships to a gun fight...)
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To: Mark17

My first question was the fighter under vector control - not a word on that


29 posted on 07/07/2015 1:45:06 PM PDT by reed13k (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothings)
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To: reed13k

“vector control “

What the hell is “vector control”?


30 posted on 07/07/2015 1:49:06 PM PDT by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement I'd be unstoppable!)
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To: Rodamala

A friend and I were wave soaring on the secondary one day in SoCal, unfortunately pretty much in the middle of a MTR (Military Training Route,about 8000’.

B1 bomber appears waay to the north,and straight at us. Should we leave, or hope he’s looking at his ‘dar (we in a big aluminum plane, and motionless).

Just as we are getting to one of those go/no-go decision-points, he executes a big ol’ 180 around us, couple of miles out.

Guess he’d been having a good day (and makes up for the number of times Edwards jet jocks busted our home-drome airspace.)


31 posted on 07/07/2015 1:49:53 PM PDT by telstar12.5 (...always bring gunships to a gun fight...)
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To: BenLurkin

The F-16 pilot must have been texting at the time...


32 posted on 07/07/2015 2:12:13 PM PDT by Paulie (America without Christianity is like a Chemistry book without the periodic table.)
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To: BenLurkin
I was under the impression that an F16 had the ability to lock on to enemy aircraft in any weather condition, otherwise how could they make intercepts in instrument conditions or night time with no lights, etc.?

So I also was under the impression that this same equipment would give them the ability to avoid aircraft they wish to avoid, whether enemy or civilian.

Would a real fighter pilot shed light on this topic?

My medical aged out long ago, but I am nevertheless curious..

I flew into a little airport (Sumter) adjacent to Shaw many many times over a 40 year period and in and out of Charleston many times.

I always did both on an IFR plan no matter what the weather. Those hot rods made me nervous. and I wanted all the help I could get.

33 posted on 07/07/2015 2:15:52 PM PDT by old curmudgeon
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To: Empireoftheatom48

That is exactly what my dad used to call them. My dad was part of the team who designed the B47, B52 and the XB70.


34 posted on 07/07/2015 2:16:20 PM PDT by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Chainmail
Exactly what was the F-16 doing at Cessna 150 altitudes and how exactly does a Cessna 150 have the visibility and speed to evade a jet fighter?

One hot September day, I was going to fly a Cessna 152. I checked density altitude. 9850 in Broomfield CO. The service ceiling of the 152 is 10,500. I went back to the office and traded the key for 7sierra foxtrot, the company 172 Skyhawk.

35 posted on 07/07/2015 2:18:09 PM PDT by SpeakerToAnimals (I hope to earn a name in battle)
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To: kjam22
“Doesn’t the F16 have collision warning alarms???”

No. They have a ground avoidance alarm but not an air-to-air warning, after all, when you dogfight you are very close to the other aircraft and under some circumstances you come nose-to-nose during the merge and in the fur-ball.

The jet is hardly a billion dollars.

Line of sight is an issue for ALL pilots and is likely what is involved here.

If anything, the F-16 is larger and can be seen easier than the C-152. And if you are “showing your wife or kids how you can fly” means you are not paying attention.

Situational awareness is key.

Let the mishap board figure out what happened.

Comments from people that hardly can tell (if at all) why an aircraft flies, let alone understand the concepts of tactical flying and leisure flying, is not useful.

36 posted on 07/07/2015 2:35:30 PM PDT by Hulka
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To: telstar12.5

Back in the 60’s there was an oil burner route between Lubbock and Holloman AFB in New Mexico that ran just south of our airport and adjacent to our student pilot training box. Instructor insisted we stay in the box and watch out for jets on that route. Turns out they used to use us for “targets” and would scare the crap out of us, waving at they passed us.

The head-on closure rate of an airplane going 100mph and one doing 500mph is unbelievably short from first visibility to passing. Just a few seconds to recognize the oncoming aircraft and to initiate an evasive maneuver.


37 posted on 07/07/2015 2:35:47 PM PDT by biff (Et Tu Boeh-ner)
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To: BenLurkin

Demolition Derby, in the air.


38 posted on 07/07/2015 2:39:13 PM PDT by showme_the_Glory ((ILLEGAL: prohibited by law. ALIEN: Owing political allegiance to another country or government))
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To: Chainmail
See Post 36, please.

They fly the same altitudes all the time, and for the F-16 they fly low level to 50,000 feet. . .mission requirements dictate the altitude.

LOS is the issue that applies to all.

Plenty of hours in bug-smashers of many types. Started my flying career as a 17yr old while fueling aircraft at the local airport. Been around aviation for over 40-yrs.

Been an mishap investigator for decades and I have seen much and been surprised often. That means I know enough to say that initial reports are usually very wrong (other than the obvious—two aircraft hit each other). Sit back, give it some time to let the investigators do their work and we will know what happened.

Passing judgment this early against any of the pilots is premature and unduly harsh and unfair.

39 posted on 07/07/2015 2:42:26 PM PDT by Hulka
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To: biff

B1 make big dot - see long way off (fortunately)


40 posted on 07/07/2015 2:42:40 PM PDT by telstar12.5 (...always bring gunships to a gun fight...)
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