Attrition Report
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AUS Air Force Aircraft Accident Investigation Board report into the loss of a USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (USAFADS – The Thunderbirds) F-16D at Dayton, Ohio, last June (see Attrition, August 2017, p90), was released on November 3. The report identifies the aircraft involved as 91-0466 – Thunderbird ‘8’.
The Accident Board President, Col Jason W Evenson, found by a preponderance of the evidence that the cause of the mishap was landing with excess airspeed and insufficient distance to stop the jet on the wet runway. Substantially contributing factors were environmental conditions affecting vision, misperception of changing environment, and procedures followed incorrectly.
On June 23, 2017, at 1231hrs local time, the Block 52 F-16D, assigned to the Thunderbirds as part of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, departed the prepared runway surface at James M Cox Dayton International Airport (KDAY) and overturned, injuring the mishap pilot (MP), although the mishap crewmember (MC) was uninjured. Neither personnel, who are assigned to the USAFADS, attempted to eject. …
