F-16C Fighting Falcon

1990's -- Sgt. Ken Mahaley, crew chief, 17th Avionics Squadron, launches an F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., during the first wave of the air attack on Iraq in support of Operation Desert Storm. The Falcon is armed with Mark 84 2,000-pound bombs mounted under its wings.

ACC releases F-16C accident report

Published March 30, 2006
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- A KC-10 air refueling aircraft boom operator’s over compensation on the boom flight-control stick caused the boom to strike an F-16C Fighting Falcon during a refueling mission over Lake Andes Military Operations Area, S.D., Oct. 28, according to an Air Force report released today.

Both aircraft recovered and landed without incident. There were no injuries to military or civilian personnel. The F-16C, assigned to the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing at Joe Foss Field, S.D., sustained more than $930,000 damage. The KC-10, assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., sustained more than $75,000 damage to the refueling boom.

The investigation determined the incident was caused by the boom operator’s abrupt and excessive boom flight-control stick inputs in reaction to the F-16C’s elevated position within the acceptable air refueling envelope.

To avoid striking the F-16’s tail, the boom operator jerked back on the boom flight-control stick, which caused the boom to move rapidly up toward the underside of the KC-10. The boom operator then abruptly pushed forward on the control stick to prevent the boom from impacting the KC-10, but in doing so caused the boom to hit the F-16C’s right aft fuselage.

For more information, contact the ACC Public Affairs office at (757) 764-5007 or e-mail acc.pam@langley.af.mil.