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An F-16C Fighting Falcon, a mainstay of U.S. air combat power, succumbed to an unexpected electrical fault and poor visibility due to cloud cover, leading to a crash shortly after takeoff near Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.
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This incident on May 6, 2023, is a stark reminder of the challenges pilots face in operating high-tech military aircraft in adverse conditions.
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At 9:27 a.m. local time, the F-16C, part of the 80th Fighter Squadron, embarked on what was to be a routine training sortie.
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The aircraft, an integral component of the 7th Air Force’s fleet stationed approximately 115 miles south of Seoul, joined three other jets in the skies.
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According to the report, the sky was veiled by clouds ranging from 1,400 feet to 17,000 feet, hindering visibility.
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Just 11 seconds after takeoff, the pilot, who remains unidentified, navigated through the clouds and encountered a partial electrical power failure, leading to erroneous readings from his flight and navigation tools.
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The report indicated that the pilot experienced “spatial disorientation” and was unable to discern the location of the horizon due to the inaccurate readings.
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Consequently, the pilot inadvertently flew at a low altitude.
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The report mentioned that the pilot grappled with various human factors while trying to maintain control of the aircraft and identify the instruments providing reliable information.
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After flying for two minutes and 41 seconds and reaching 710 feet above ground, the pilot ejected from the aircraft.
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Subsequently the pilot landed in a farm field eight miles south of Osan Air Base, the base for the 7th Air Force and the 51st Fighter Wing.
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The pilot sustained minor injuries, as reported by the wing in a news release. The accident report stated that the pilot had approximately 125 flying hours on the F-16 and a total of 425 flying hours.
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The aircraft’s wreckage scattered over a 900-foot radius, yet, remarkably, no civilians were harmed.
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The investigation concluded that the accident’s root causes were the dual factors of the power outage and the challenging weather.
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The board asserted that “the absence of either factor may have prevented this mishap,” underscoring the perilous nature of the event. It was also confirmed that the F-16 had been properly maintained by qualified personnel.
Relevant articles:
– Power loss and bad weather caused F-16 to crash last year in South Korea, Air Force says, Stars and Stripes
– USAF Finds 2023 Korea F-16c Crash Due to Power Loss and Weather, Atlas News
– US Air Force blames power loss, weather for F-16 crash in Korea in May 2023, The Korea Times
– 3 F-16 Crashes in 9 Months in Korea, But USAF Says Mishaps Are Unrelated, Air & Space Forces Magazine