Skip to comments.
Bird strike likely cause of crash [F-16]
Air Force Link ^
| 9/19/2003
| AFPN Staff
Posted on 09/20/2003 8:23:26 AM PDT by 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)
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: eject; f16; f16fightingfalcon; hickamafb; lawndarts
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-83 next last
To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
He was cool.
To: Cathryn Crawford
ANYTHING that poops on my car is EVIL!
To: Smokin' Joe
All right! Someone else that agrees with me. :-)
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Suggestion to DOD ,replace stingers with heat seaking ducks !
Stay Safe !
64
posted on
09/20/2003 11:54:50 AM PDT
by
Squantos
(Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.)
To: tophat9000
I not sure all birds are "demon-possessed" but definition all birds are sure little pecker heads.Well, dammit, I like birds. And I don't even want to try to imagine living in a world without "pecker heads."
Birds are cool, too.
65
posted on
09/20/2003 11:56:27 AM PDT
by
Scenic Sounds
("Don't mind people grinnin' in your face." - Son House)
To: Cathryn Crawford
Through my tears while thinking of you with two scarred and tattered remnants of your feet as you crawl through life, I thank you for inspiring me to higher goals. Bless you, and curse those damn, dirty, baby chicks.
66
posted on
09/20/2003 12:00:21 PM PDT
by
HighWheeler
(Death and taxes are inevitable, but at least death doesn't get worse every year.)
To: Squantos
Better keep the Stingers, no one will roast them when they get tired of MREs.
To: HighWheeler
You are so kind and wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
To: Scenic Sounds
Birds are cool, too. Yea that true... I got a chicken in the frige right now
(No offence just a little teasing... birds are ok:>
69
posted on
09/20/2003 12:03:29 PM PDT
by
tophat9000
(McClintock....................In your heart..........you know he's right....................)
To: tophat9000
And I'm gonna try to get some birdies on the golf course this afternoon. ;-)
70
posted on
09/20/2003 12:07:18 PM PDT
by
Scenic Sounds
("Don't mind people grinnin' in your face." - Son House)
To: Scenic Sounds
The birds would pass right thru the screen. Remember - the F-16 is going at least 160 mph - that is a lot of force. Just means shredded bird guts would pass thru. In addition, a screen strong enough to stop the bird would also stop a lot of airflow.
The F-4 engine, on the other hand, swallowed birds with glee. Ususally, the only indication was the smell of fried chicken afterwards. Of course, a duck is kinda large for ANY jet engine to swallow...
To: Cathryn Crawford
Way back when dear old Dad had pretensions of being a gentleman farmer, we kept chickens.
One day my youngest brother stumbled into the house bleeding from numerous cuts on his legs and in great distress.
While I dressed his wounds with antibiotic ointment I got the story.
He went out to feed the chickens and turned his back on the rooster. It spurred him about 20 times before he could get out of the chicken pen.
I promptly put on my boots and put a pair of wire-cutters in my back pocket.
I went to the chicken pen. I turned my back on the rooster.
I heard it squawk as it came at me.
Turning around I executed an NFL kick-for-points.
Then, while the rooster was still stunned, I unceremoniously removed his spurs with the wire-cutters.
Peace returned to the suburbs.
72
posted on
09/20/2003 12:15:19 PM PDT
by
LibKill
(Leaving the toilet seat up improves your household feng shui.)
To: Scenic Sounds
You want to shoot some birdies? Im going to tell ELF on you!
73
posted on
09/20/2003 12:15:50 PM PDT
by
tophat9000
(McClintock....................In your heart..........you know he's right....................)
To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet; Cathryn Crawford
Hello, Ladies! Fun day at the beach today - my youngest found a dead otter! Pretty cool, no?
74
posted on
09/20/2003 9:44:52 PM PDT
by
Chad Fairbanks
("I guess we got so focused on the rubber penis we didn't even pay attention to what he was saying.")
To: Chad Fairbanks
Pictures?
75
posted on
09/20/2003 9:52:30 PM PDT
by
DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
(Hard work never killed anyone, but why take a chance?)
To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
SOmeone got one - I think after she threw it back into the water - when the picnic pictures get put up, I'll ping ya!
76
posted on
09/20/2003 9:54:53 PM PDT
by
Chad Fairbanks
("I guess we got so focused on the rubber penis we didn't even pay attention to what he was saying.")
To: Chad Fairbanks
Too bad it wasn't a dead bird.
To: tophat9000
You want to shoot some birdies? Im going to tell ELF on you!LOL. BTW, some folks claiming ELF affiliation have been burning several buildings under construction in our area lately.
78
posted on
09/21/2003 7:48:34 AM PDT
by
Scenic Sounds
("Don't mind people grinnin' in your face." - Son House)
To: Mr Rogers
The birds would pass right thru the screen.Yeah, that makes sense. There must something that can be done!? ;-)
79
posted on
09/21/2003 7:50:27 AM PDT
by
Scenic Sounds
("Don't mind people grinnin' in your face." - Son House)
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
So, how's the duck? Reporters these days . . . . . . .
80
posted on
09/21/2003 8:02:29 AM PDT
by
Hank Rearden
(Dick Gephardt. Before he dicks you.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-83 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson