[proud_yank]

Likewise, any pictures?

[xrp]

Here's me doing some stunt flying in my personal F-16

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Initial reports indicate an engine problem:

F-16 Fighter Crashes Near Great Salt Lake

March 30th, 2006 @ 5:54pm

(KSL News) -- Hill Air Force Base has confirmed the crash of one of its F-16s.

Jim Post, Vice Commander 388th Fighter Wing says the pilot is now back at Hill, undergoing a thorough physical examination, but he did walk away from the accident.

The jet was part of a four plane training mission. Towards the end of the mission, the pilot reported some sort of engine anomaly before crashing just after 2:00 this afternoon.

The jet went down this afternoon in Tooele County, somewhere between Carrington Island and the western shore of the Great Salt Lake. Commander Post says the plane went down in an area on the edge of water and land, where the tide comes and goes.

The F-16 single seater fighter jet is assigned to Hill's 388th fighter wing's 421st fighter squadron.

Post says pilots are trained to eject a plane if they determine they are unable to maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet. It is unknown at this time if that was the case in this situation.

The military has closed a large area to investigate and Hill Air Force will temporarily stand down as part of the investigation.

The identity of the pilot has not yet been revealed.

[fso301]

Of course that salt water is so dense and corrosive, the plane wouldn't sink but before rescuers can reach it it will have corroded into a pile of dust.

[TankerKC]

Here's my jet. I was the Crew Chief back in the day...