ACC releases F-16C accident report

  • Published
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  A left brake anti-skid malfunction during landing and the pilot's failure to follow an emergency checklist caused an F-16C to depart the runway and come to rest on its targeting pod system, ordnance and external fuel tank at Balad Air Base, Iraq, July 10, 2004, according to an Aircraft Investigation Board report Air Force officials released today.

The aircraft, assigned to the 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard at Great Falls International Airport, was deployed with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The aircraft was returning from a night close air support mission when on touchdown an electrical malfunction caused the left anti-skid system to sense a skid condition in the left wheel.

During the incident, the pilot failed to follow the brake failure emergency checklist.

The malfunctioning left brake caused the aircraft to pull right during the landing rollout until the aircraft departed the runway. The aircraft impacted an exposed concrete manhole cover with its nose landing gear and right main landing gear. The aircraft came to rest 300 feet off the taxiway on its targeting pod system, 500-pound ordnance and right external fuel tank.

Two additional factors contributed to the accident. The pilot's vision was restricted by a lack of airfield lighting, and he fixated his attention on the pedal's non-responsiveness instead of following the brake failure emergency checklist.

Damage to the aircraft is estimated at $1.2 million. No one was injured during the mishap and there was no additional damage to military or civilian property.

For more information, call the Air Combat Command Public Affairs at 757-764-5007 or email acc.pam@langley.af.mil