View Full Version : Dutch F-16 Strikes Cable in Arizona
Airbubba
11th Feb 2018, 20:38
And lives to tell about it...
Air Force investigating F-16 Fighting Falcon incident
By Joey Greaber
12:35 PM, Feb 11, 2018
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Air Force is investigating an incident that occurred involving an F-16 Fighting Falcon Sunday.
According to 1st Lt. Lacey L. Roberts, a Netherlands F-16 Fighting Falcon based out of the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing struck a cable near Black Canyon City at 10:00 a.m.
The pilot landed the aircraft safely at Sky Harbor Airport.
https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/air-force-investigating-f-16-fighting-falcon-incident
Airbubba
11th Feb 2018, 23:20
From ATC tapes and ADS-B data it appears that the F-16BM that hit the wire, possibly on VR-241, was J-369 (84-1369) using callsign GYPSY FOUR. They recovered to PHX at about 1715Z.
Wingman GYPSY THREE in J-209 (83-1209) landed at PHX afterward.
Tankertrashnav
12th Feb 2018, 10:18
Oh dear. All those of us on the "Fear of Flying" thread who have recurrent nightmares about flying under wires will be having some sleepless nights in the next few weeks :(
glad rag
12th Feb 2018, 11:53
Was on Ex/exchange at Bodo 43 (F) f4 era and one of their vipers had hit ht cable with fatal consequences :(
They still had the seat from ANOTHER fatal (where the seat malfunctioned) quarantined in a bay, boy you didn't want to be downwind of that room.....
Airbubba
12th Feb 2018, 13:24
It was claimed that a former airline colleague had his Navy wings pulled for hitting a telephone wire on a T-A4J instructor night proficiency solo out of NAS Kingsville.
Apparently it was the infamous buzz the girlfriend's house maneuver.
He somehow forgot to note the minor mishap in the hard book and the XO went ballistic when he found the damage the next morning. Or, so the story goes.
And, of course, my coworker was the system chief pilot. :D
A couple of fatal cable strikes come to mind.
The 1998 Marine EA-6B disaster in Italy where 20 people in a cable car were killed.
And the American Samoa Flag Day P-3 crash in 1980 where seven people, six on the plane, died.
TBM-Legend
12th Feb 2018, 20:37
and a RAAF Sabre collected a power wire.....
Low-Flying Sabre Intercepts Powerlines! (http://www.google.com.au/url?q=http://www.3squadron.org.au/subpages/Pietsch.htm&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwimopnDqqHZAhWEJpQKHXsEAu4QFggaMAE&usg=AOvVaw0bbFC43Sxfi48fuNwE0Nbn)
josephfeatherweight
13th Feb 2018, 09:06
And a RAAF Hawk in 2008...
There was a Jag pilot who took a wire strike on the fin. Claimed he would have got away with it if he hadn’t instinctively pulled up slightly when he saw it....
Wander00
13th Feb 2018, 13:39
Many years ago there was a pic in Air Clues of a JP with a cable cut in the fin. That was cause by going under telephone cables to wards rising ground ISTR - pilot Laurie????... was on my Gnat course
charliegolf
13th Feb 2018, 13:40
Lex Brown was lucky not to register the first 5-bar gate strike out Salisbury Plain way!
oldmansquipper
14th Feb 2018, 17:50
There was a Jag pilot who took a wire strike on the fin. Claimed he would have got away with it if he hadn’t instinctively pulled up slightly when he saw it....
Moselle? If so and IIRC, The gentleman was posted shortly afterwards...
Vendee
14th Feb 2018, 18:10
Moselle? If so and IIRC, The gentleman was posted shortly afterwards...
The one I remember was further south towards Saarbrücken. The gentleman was also posted.
In 1968 an F-100 of the 48th TFW hit a guy wire of what was at the time the tallest TV tower in Europe near Soesterberg AB in Holland toppling an upper section of the tower. From the wingman: "Lead did you see that tower?" From lead: "See it, I hit the son of a bitch!!".
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/TurboBob/F-100%20Wire%20Strike%20Picture_zpsqzvnj8av.png
oldmansquipper
16th Feb 2018, 12:11
The one I remember was further south towards Saarbrücken. The gentleman was also posted.
Quite probably the same one...
Recce jet?
Speedywheels
16th Feb 2018, 15:15
During my time at Laarbruch in the early 90s, we had a GR1 take out the earth wire on top an electricity pylon. If I recall correctly it hit a wing leading edge but the damage wasn’t extensive. The driver was Robbie Savage’s mate.
Vendee
16th Feb 2018, 20:52
Quite probably the same one...
Recce jet?
Yes, II(ac)Sqn T2. About 1983. Sqn Ldr in front, Flying Officer in rear. One of the canopies hit the cable and most of the perspex went down No.1 intake. I was involved in recovering the aircraft from the Canadian base at Baden–Soellingen.