View Full Version : F-16 Crash at March AFB in California
Airbubba
16th May 2019, 23:45
Reports of an F-16 crash at March AFB in Riverside, California.
F-16 military fighter jet crashes in Riverside County By Joseph Serna (https://www.latimes.com/la-bio-joseph-serna-staff.html#nt=byline)
May 16, 2019 | 4:20 PM An F-16 returning to March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley crashed after its pilot ejected, base officials said Thursday. The jet crashed into a building off the base, on Van Buren Boulevard, about 3:45 p.m., said March Air Reserve Base Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Holliday.
Dee Vee
16th May 2019, 23:57
Reports of an F-16 crash at March AFB in Riverside, California.
the New York Post are onto it, presumably they mean while the pilot was still OVER the base!
The pilot safely ejected from the plane while still on the base
https://nypost.com/2019/05/16/f-16-fighter-jet-crashes-into-california-building/
https://www.facebook.com/fox6news/videos/622649468214949/
Airbubba
17th May 2019, 00:18
From live helo video it appears that a parachute canopy and life raft are in the overrun of one of the March runways. The jet canopy and ejection seat are also off the end of the runway.
Usual hazmat issues with an F-16 mishap, possible live ammo, hydrazine in the EPU etc. The plane appears to be in a warehouse near the runway across I-215. The warehouse is owned by See Water, Inc. https://www.seewaterinc.com/
RAFEngO74to09
17th May 2019, 00:18
Made a fairly neat hole in a large warehouse.
https://ktla.com/2019/05/16/f-16-fighter-jet-crashes-into-building-near-march-air-reserve-base-pilot-ejects/
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2019/05/16/march-air-reserve-base-f-16-crashes-moreno-valley/3699895002/
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/28075/f-16-crashes-near-march-air-reserve-base-in-southern-california
Airbubba
17th May 2019, 00:35
From a Facebook post by Jeff Schoffstall:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1080/60270765_2450111701700583_3047858867988856832_o_large__0c5eb 669b0fe8bbd28acb2ddb60d9a64810488f4.jpg
tartare
17th May 2019, 00:57
That looks like a tail sticking up from behind those pallets.
Interesting reading about the APU.
25l of hydrazine on board - online in 0.25 of a sec in case of power failure, and spools up to full speed in 2-3 secs.
You'd want to be pretty careful walking around that wreck - even if there wasn't ordnance on board...
dead_pan
17th May 2019, 05:47
Nice tidy hole - pretty straightforward to repair one would think. The F16 will probably take a bit more work.
Relieved no casualties from this mishap
threep
17th May 2019, 08:12
Wow, it doesn't appear that there was a fire, at least none that a sprinkler system couldn't put out. Looks like warehouse shelving and cardboard boxes creates a decent crash pad for fighters too!
weemonkey
17th May 2019, 09:15
Forklift operator needs to buy some lottery tickets PRONTO!!
Bob Viking
17th May 2019, 09:56
I wonder if there was any fuel on board? Or maybe it was just a very low speed, flat impact.
It seems very unusual to have no post-impact fire. Very lucky as well considering where it ended up.
BV
SASless
17th May 2019, 12:00
Wee.....more coincidence with the company name....
The warehouse is owned by See Water, Inc.
Probably some running down that Fork Lift Operator's leg immediately following the arrival of the F-16 into his work space.
NutLoose
17th May 2019, 12:21
Another 20 foot and it would have been well and truly forked.
NutLoose
17th May 2019, 12:23
I wonder if there was any fuel on board? Or maybe it was just a very low speed, flat impact.
It seems very unusual to have no post-impact fire. Very lucky as well considering where it ended up.
BV
The F-16 pancaked onto the roof of the 500,000-square-foot building, causing a fire that triggered the on-site sprinkler system, containing the flames, according to reports from the scene.
Just This Once...
17th May 2019, 15:37
Ahh yes, the US affinity with fire sprinkler systems to save both life and property. Glad we live in the UK and do the British thing of burning to death with a stiff upper lip whilst humming the national anthem.
My daughter resides in a university block, also sans-sprinklers. A bit of a drop no doubt, but escaping by window looks survivable - if they didn't wire them up to stop students flinging themselves from them. On moving in I gave her a set of wire cutters.
NumptyAussie
17th May 2019, 15:45
Video from inside the warehouse
https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=k8XCJ_1558057447
Is that the chute deploying just as it’s about to hit the roof in the second video? In which case he was both incredibly unlucky not to get it on the ground - and also to survive.
nomorehelosforme
17th May 2019, 23:18
just this once
With respect, WTF are you on about (or on?) with this post?
Ahh yes, the US affinity with fire sprinkler systems to save both life and property. Glad we live in the UK and do the British thing of burning to death with a stiff upper lip whilst humming the national anthem.
My daughter resides in a university block, also sans-sprinklers. A bit of a drop no doubt, but escaping by window looks survivable - if they didn't wire them up to stop students flinging themselves from them. On moving in I gave her a set of wire cutters.
Rhino power
18th May 2019, 01:50
just this once
With respect, WTF are you on about (or on?) with this post?
Pretty bloody obvious, I would've thought! Or do you not understand sarcasm?
-RP
falcon900
18th May 2019, 09:43
The lack of a post crash fire remains curious in my mind. The live leak footage suggests that the aircraft was highly banked on entry to the building, rather than"pancaking" in. Even allowing for a cushioning effect from the warehouse contents, and a suppressing effect from the sprinklers, I would have expected some more evidence of fuel, burnt or unburnt. As it is, the photo inside the warehouse shows little in the way of moisture on the floor, and I would imagine if there was any smell of fuel, the staff would have headed for the hills rather than getting that close to take a video and comment so relatively calmly on it. Thankfully no serious casualties, and I will look forward to the investigation identifying whether fuel played a part in this accident.
SASless
18th May 2019, 14:14
To be fair....there have been several instances of F-16's having rather serious un-intentional landings that did not result in fires.
As most Fire Sprinkler systems are ceiling mounted and require steel. piping for the water supply....I cannot imagine the system did that much good where the aircraft came to rest.
Generally, they are installed in "circuits" so the loss of integrity of one part of the system does not cause the entire system to fail.
Likewise most sprinter heads require heat to trigger them.
The Accident Report will have some discussion about what role the sprinkler system played in this event.
megan
19th May 2019, 03:35
TV reporting here hydraulic failure. Over to you gums on import of such.
Treble one
23rd May 2019, 16:16
F-16 ejection video filmed from the highway by the look of it?
https://fighterjetsworld.com/air/new-videos-shows-moment-f-16-pilot-ejects-before-jet-crashes-into-a-california-warehouse/13832/?fbclid=IwAR3UGs2ZW8k_kn-pvf8yQwWy5jhO_qBUycCY8e5_4ao5ulqi7P_znCsVqSg
Salute!
Typical flameout with ejection usually results in a fairly shallow descent with zero roll rate. But this one might actually BE hydraulic failure, except the approach does not as steep as I expect for a flameout.
Another video I saw today..... And the plane looks like it is starting a roll when the seat comes out. It then pitches up slightly and roll continues. The EPU only runs for a few minutes unless using bleed air, and the lack of fire could mean a no kidding fuel starvation and flameout approach.
Gums sends....
Traffic_Is_Er_Was
24th May 2019, 11:02
How is he supposed to heroically avoid the schools and hospitals if he gets out so early?
Salute!
As seen time and again with this plane, it generally goes st ahead due to the FBW control laws and AoA limiter.
The guy punched on short final and chute was actually on overrun. Plane pitched up and went to starboard due to roll.
Gums sends.....
https://www.pe.com/hydraulic-failure-caused-f-16-to-crash-near-march-base-last-year-air-force-says
Hydraulic failure caused F-16 to crash near March base last year, Air Force says