Bird strike likely cause of crash [F-16]

Air Force Link ^ | 9/19/2003 | AFPN Staff

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

9/19/2003 - HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) -- Air Force investigators determined an F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed after at least one Spot-billed Duck was ingested into the engine, resulting in catastrophic engine failure, according to a report released Sept. 18.

The May 29 crash happened off the end of the runway at Osan Air Base, South Korea.

The mishap pilot was the wingman in a two-ship formation on a night-training mission at the time of the accident. The pilot and a Korean on the ground were slightly injured in the crash.

According to the report, shortly after taking off, the pilot said he saw a grayish object flash in front of him followed by a loud band and an apparent fire in front of his aircraft. The pilot then experienced severe deceleration causing him to be thrown forward in the cockpit. He initiated emergency procedures for an engine fire by raising the nose of his aircraft and releasing his external fuel tanks. After assessing that the engine was not responding properly to his throttle inputs, the pilot ejected safely approximately 12 seconds after liftoff. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact. (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service)

[Cathryn Crawford]

Are you saying you share a kinship with the bird? That's an unforgiveable offense.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

The entire time it was looking at me menacingly with its cold, dead, black, evil eyes.

Hmmmm...Chad described your grade school picture the other day in similar terms - so there's a possible common denominator.

Maybe it was flirting with you.

[Scenic Sounds]

It is not me! I just walk by them! Like this duck at the university the other day. I was just walking by it. Then it started stalking me. I would walk, stop, look at it, then it would stop and look at me. I would walk faster, it would walk faster. I would stop, it would stop. The entire time it was looking at me menacingly with its cold, dead, black, evil eyes. Finally, I started walking really quickly and then - it flew at me! Suddenly! I nearly had a heart attack.

ROFL. I rest my case, Cathryn. LOL.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Chad described your grade school picture the other day in similar terms

That's true. I had forgotten about that.

Maybe it was flirting with you.

So that's why they tell women to carry pepper spray!

[Cathryn Crawford]

But...see? I didn't do anything to them! It stalked and terrorized me! I'm innocent!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

; )

Actually, I wanted to send you a present. (I told Chad about this, too, so he can vouch for me here.) I was in a Halloween shop recently and they had stuffed crows that make a "caw" sound. I thought it would be fun to box one up and mail it to you.

Chad didn't think you'd give me your address.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

If only we could be so lucky...

[Scenic Sounds]

That's an interesting theory. She probably does something to the birds (throws pebbles at them, charges them...who knows?) then when the birds defend themselves, she claims she was attacked.

Typical woman. : )

Didn't I recently read a column dealing with just that sort of phenomenon? ;-)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Pepper spray. Good idea, though I've never heard of anyone using it on a sparrow.

[Cathryn Crawford]

For once, Chad was right.

That reminds me of a funny story. I took this biology class a couple of semesters ago, and we had to dissect cats. The professor went to this gag shop and bought a little stuffed cat that meowed and made raowring noises and shook when you moved it. He put it in the box where we kept our partially dissected cats. So then, this girl goes to get out her cat and suddenly you hear all this meowing coming out of the box. It was halarious. I think she dropped that class.

[tophat9000]

I not sure all birds are "demon-possessed" but definition all birds are sure little pecker heads

[Cathryn Crawford]

Yes, she's turning my own arguments against me!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I decided I don't like birds after I got dive-bombed while riding my bike around my neighborhood.

[HighWheeler]

"You know, I'm aware of the hazard that birds can present to jet engines, but it's never been clear to me why that hazard can't be somehow eliminated by perhaps some sort of screen or something. I'm sure that there must be some problem with the obvious solutions, but I've heard what it is."

A screen in front of a jet engine that could stop a duck would reduce the thrust, reduce the fuel efficiency, and make the engine far more susceptable to stalling in a sidewind condition, all bad results.

Any lighter screen would wind up in the engine anyway as the bird dragged it in with it.

So we're stuck having to lose engines and aircraft for the birds.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

"Birds are your friends, trust me!!"

[KneelBeforeZod]

maybe it was a seagull that someone fed alka seltzer to. it flew away and exploded in front of the plane. </urban legend>

[Scenic Sounds]

Thank you. I knew that there had to be some explanation for that. ;-)

[HighWheeler]

"Also some little baby chickens bit me on the feet one time."

Gee Cathryn, it's too bad you'll never be able to walk again, my condolences. But I know you are strong and you will be able to cope with the challenges of life even without the use of your feet.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I like the way that professor thinks. : )

[Cathryn Crawford]

Somehow, somehow, I'll manage. Thanks for your condolences, it means a lot to me.