Dayton Ohio Airshow USAF Thunderbird Mishap
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Dayton Ohio Airshow USAF Thunderbird Mishap
I think today is a practice day.
Dayton Air Show crash: Thunderbird F-16 plane on its top
Hopefully some good news on the crew in this tweet:
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/878305922665160704
Thunderbird F-16 plane flips on its top at Dayton Air Show
Breaking News Staff
12:42 p.m Friday, June 23, 2017 News
UPDATE @ 1:25 p.m.
There are reports that two people are trapped inside the plane.
Breaking News Staff
12:42 p.m Friday, June 23, 2017 News
UPDATE @ 1:25 p.m.
There are reports that two people are trapped inside the plane.
Hopefully some good news on the crew in this tweet:
ABC News
Verified account
@ABC 18m
18 minutes ago
JUST IN: F-16 Thunderbird involved in an accident at the Dayton Air Show at Dayton Int'l Airport; there are no fatalities, spox tells @ABC.
Verified account
@ABC 18m
18 minutes ago
JUST IN: F-16 Thunderbird involved in an accident at the Dayton Air Show at Dayton Int'l Airport; there are no fatalities, spox tells @ABC.
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Listening to the tapes, sounds like Thunderbird 8 went off the end (or side) of runway 6L after an ILS approach with heavy weather in the vicinity.
Thunderbird 8 is normally the callsign of the advance pilot and narrator.
T-bird 8 had earlier shot a missed approach to 24R with reports of extreme precip and windshear in the vicinity of the DAY airport. He discussed diverting for fuel and called his ops while he was loitering in the MOA between approaches. He decided to try an ILS to 6L, requested 'short vectors'. Tower winds reported 340/13G21, RVR 6000+.
After landing T-bird 8 reported that they were in the overrun. News reports said the aircraft was inverted and the occupant extrication may have been lengthy.
Time of the mishap was around 1630Z from the recordings.
Approaches and landing at the end of this liveatc.net clip:
http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kd...2017-1600Z.mp3
ATC aftermath at the start of the next reel:
http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kd...2017-1630Z.mp3
Picture here:
https://twitter.com/daytondailynews/...690048/photo/1
Thunderbird 8 is normally the callsign of the advance pilot and narrator.
T-bird 8 had earlier shot a missed approach to 24R with reports of extreme precip and windshear in the vicinity of the DAY airport. He discussed diverting for fuel and called his ops while he was loitering in the MOA between approaches. He decided to try an ILS to 6L, requested 'short vectors'. Tower winds reported 340/13G21, RVR 6000+.
After landing T-bird 8 reported that they were in the overrun. News reports said the aircraft was inverted and the occupant extrication may have been lengthy.
Time of the mishap was around 1630Z from the recordings.
Approaches and landing at the end of this liveatc.net clip:
http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kd...2017-1600Z.mp3
ATC aftermath at the start of the next reel:
http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kd...2017-1630Z.mp3
Picture here:
https://twitter.com/daytondailynews/...690048/photo/1
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Good news from Thunderbird 1's press conference, both pilot and backseater are in good condition. 
Pilot is Captain Erik 'Speedy' Gonsalves, he was giving a fam flight to aircraft maintainer Tech Sergeant Kenneth Cordova. Both were conscious and talking during the lengthy extrication. Since they were sitting upside down on hot ejection seats, I'm glad that the effort was not unduly hurried by circumstances.
As usual, some of the questions in an earlier media briefing given by airshow and airport officials were perhaps not well phrased. When asked if the aircraft occupants were pilots, one of the briefers said that we know that at least one was. When asked if the crew attempted to eject after the plane rolled inverted on the ground it was intimated that the ejection vector might not have been favorable in that situation so the answer was probably no.
During the 5 pm media conference Lead Thunderbird Lieutenant Colonel Jason Heard received word that the T-birds would NOT fly in the show on Saturday. Participation in Sunday's Dayton show would be decided later. He seemed pleased and not surprised by the decision as he looked at his phone on the podium. I sense that his input to the decision was in line with the result in this case.
Pilot is Captain Erik 'Speedy' Gonsalves, he was giving a fam flight to aircraft maintainer Tech Sergeant Kenneth Cordova. Both were conscious and talking during the lengthy extrication. Since they were sitting upside down on hot ejection seats, I'm glad that the effort was not unduly hurried by circumstances.
As usual, some of the questions in an earlier media briefing given by airshow and airport officials were perhaps not well phrased. When asked if the aircraft occupants were pilots, one of the briefers said that we know that at least one was. When asked if the crew attempted to eject after the plane rolled inverted on the ground it was intimated that the ejection vector might not have been favorable in that situation so the answer was probably no.
During the 5 pm media conference Lead Thunderbird Lieutenant Colonel Jason Heard received word that the T-birds would NOT fly in the show on Saturday. Participation in Sunday's Dayton show would be decided later. He seemed pleased and not surprised by the decision as he looked at his phone on the podium. I sense that his input to the decision was in line with the result in this case.
Very pleased to hear both occupants are OK.
OAP
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Looks like it's on the grass. If the aircraft left the hard surface with some sideways drift, it wouldn't take much to dig a wheel in. The F-16 has a fairly narrow track undercarriage.
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Curious to know if the F-16 has anti-skid. We had an F-86 in eastern Canada do a runway overrun a few years ago during a rainy landing. No anti-skid and apparently vulnerable to this sort of thing. Apparently did a practice run with weather approaching. Both arrived at the airport at the same time.
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Curious to know if the F-16 has anti-skid. We had an F-86 in eastern Canada do a runway overrun a few years ago during a rainy landing. No anti-skid and apparently vulnerable to this sort of thing. Apparently did a practice run with weather approaching. Both arrived at the airport at the same time.
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Looks like the Sunday show in Dayton is cancelled as well. 
From the T-bird Facebook page:
From the T-bird Facebook page:
Update 4:
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will not fly at the Dayton Air Show on Sunday. We would like to thank our fans and the air show staff for their continuous support.
Capt. Gonsalves has not been released from the hospital. Stay tuned to our social media accounts for more updates.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will not fly at the Dayton Air Show on Sunday. We would like to thank our fans and the air show staff for their continuous support.
Capt. Gonsalves has not been released from the hospital. Stay tuned to our social media accounts for more updates.
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Looks like the show schedule is back on the road.
https://www.facebook.com/AFThunderbirds/
Here's the remaining 2017 T-bird airshow schedule:
Show Season | U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds
UPDATE 5:
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will return to flying operations today, June 26th when the squadron departs Dayton, Ohio for home station at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The team will conduct routine practices on Tuesday.
"Capt. Gonsalves remains in the hospital and is surrounded by loved ones," said Lt. Col. Jason Heard. "I have full faith and confidence in our team to conduct the mission safely, we look forward to returning to flying operations."
Thanks for the continuous support.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will return to flying operations today, June 26th when the squadron departs Dayton, Ohio for home station at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The team will conduct routine practices on Tuesday.
"Capt. Gonsalves remains in the hospital and is surrounded by loved ones," said Lt. Col. Jason Heard. "I have full faith and confidence in our team to conduct the mission safely, we look forward to returning to flying operations."
Thanks for the continuous support.
Here's the remaining 2017 T-bird airshow schedule:
July 1-2: Traverse City, Michigan – “National Cherry Festival Airshow”
July 14: Paris, France – “Bastille Day Flyby”
July 15-16: RAF Fairford, UK – “Royal International Air Tattoo”
July 22-23: Great Falls, Montana – “Flight Over the Falls”
July 26: Cheyenne, Wyoming – “Frontier Days Air Show”
July 29-30: Fairchild AFB, Washington – “Inland Northwest Skyfest”
August 12-13: Westfield, Massachusetts – “Westfield Air Show”
August 19-20: Selfridge ANGB, Michigan – “Selfridge ANGB Air Show/Open House”
August 23: Atlantic City, New Jersey – “Thunder Over the Boardwalk”
August 26-27: Dover AFB, Delaware – “Dover AFB Open House/Air Show”
September 2-4: Cleveland, Ohio – “Cleveland National Air Show”
September 9: Altus AFB, Oklahoma – “Altus AFB Air Show”
September 16-17: JB Andrews, Maryland – “JB Andrews Air Show”
September 23-24: Colorado Springs, Colorado – “Pikes Peak Regional Airshow”
September 30-Oct 1: Grand Junction, Colorado – “Grand Junction Air Show”
October 7-8: Minden, Nevada – “Minden-Tahoe Air Show”
October 14-15: Boise, Idaho – “Gowen Thunder Air Show”
October 21-22: Houston, Texas – “Wings Over Houston Air Show”
October 28-29: Moody AFB, Georgia – “Moody AFB Community Appreciation Day”
November 4-5: JB Lackland-Kelly, Texas – “JB Lackland-Kelly AFB”
November 11-12: Nellis AFB, Nevada – “Aviation Nation Open House”
July 14: Paris, France – “Bastille Day Flyby”
July 15-16: RAF Fairford, UK – “Royal International Air Tattoo”
July 22-23: Great Falls, Montana – “Flight Over the Falls”
July 26: Cheyenne, Wyoming – “Frontier Days Air Show”
July 29-30: Fairchild AFB, Washington – “Inland Northwest Skyfest”
August 12-13: Westfield, Massachusetts – “Westfield Air Show”
August 19-20: Selfridge ANGB, Michigan – “Selfridge ANGB Air Show/Open House”
August 23: Atlantic City, New Jersey – “Thunder Over the Boardwalk”
August 26-27: Dover AFB, Delaware – “Dover AFB Open House/Air Show”
September 2-4: Cleveland, Ohio – “Cleveland National Air Show”
September 9: Altus AFB, Oklahoma – “Altus AFB Air Show”
September 16-17: JB Andrews, Maryland – “JB Andrews Air Show”
September 23-24: Colorado Springs, Colorado – “Pikes Peak Regional Airshow”
September 30-Oct 1: Grand Junction, Colorado – “Grand Junction Air Show”
October 7-8: Minden, Nevada – “Minden-Tahoe Air Show”
October 14-15: Boise, Idaho – “Gowen Thunder Air Show”
October 21-22: Houston, Texas – “Wings Over Houston Air Show”
October 28-29: Moody AFB, Georgia – “Moody AFB Community Appreciation Day”
November 4-5: JB Lackland-Kelly, Texas – “JB Lackland-Kelly AFB”
November 11-12: Nellis AFB, Nevada – “Aviation Nation Open House”
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A nice clip of TODAY show host Lilliana Vazquez as she takes a ride with Captain Gonsalves in Thunderbird 8 a couple of weeks ago. She enjoyed every bit of it she says. There is a picture of Captain Gonsalves recovering in the Dayton hospital at the end of the clip:
Watch TODAY go flying with the US Air Force Thunderbirds - TODAY.com
There is a picture of Captain Gonsalves recovering in the Dayton hospital at the end of the clip:Watch TODAY go flying with the US Air Force Thunderbirds - TODAY.com
Any info as of what happened?
On a side note I'm impressed about the scheduled displays in Europe. It must be quite an expensive logistical undertaking...
On a side note I'm impressed about the scheduled displays in Europe. It must be quite an expensive logistical undertaking...
Drain Bamaged
Reading Thunderbirds Facebook's feed, somebody wrote down that the nose gear wasn't down (or something of that matter) Followed by lost of directional control.
I would take that with a big grain of salt though...
I would take that with a big grain of salt though...
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Report on crash along with USAF report... Extra Info: https://www.defensetech.org/2017/11/...t-runway-wind/
http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/...aytonohio0.jpg
Investigation: Pilot Landing Too Quickly, Heavy Rain Caused June F-16 Crash 03 Nov 2017 Brian Everstine
"A USAF Thunderbird F-16 was destroyed while landing in June in Dayton, Ohio, because the pilot touched down going too quickly for the rainy conditions, an Air Combat Command investigation found.
On June 23, an F-16D, tail number 91-0466, from the Air Force’s Air Demonstration Squadron of the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB, Nev., was flying a “familiarization sortie” at James M. Cox Dayton International Airport with a member of the team’s crew in the back seat....
USAF: http://www.airforcemag.com/AircraftA...16D_Dayton.pdf (1.24Mb)
...The pilot made no attempt to eject, and was stuck in the aircraft as rescuers were forced to cut through the canopy to get the pilot. The pilot sustained several injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. The crew member in the back seat was not injured.
The F-16 was destroyed in the mishap, at a total loss of $29.2 million.
While the AIB president found the main cause of the crash was the pilot landing with excess airspeed, the board also found other contributions to the mishap were environmental conditions affecting the pilot’s vision, a misperception of the changing environment, and the pilot not following procedure for braking on a wet runway."
http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/...-16-Crash.aspx
"A USAF Thunderbird F-16 was destroyed while landing in June in Dayton, Ohio, because the pilot touched down going too quickly for the rainy conditions, an Air Combat Command investigation found.
On June 23, an F-16D, tail number 91-0466, from the Air Force’s Air Demonstration Squadron of the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB, Nev., was flying a “familiarization sortie” at James M. Cox Dayton International Airport with a member of the team’s crew in the back seat....
USAF: http://www.airforcemag.com/AircraftA...16D_Dayton.pdf (1.24Mb)
...The pilot made no attempt to eject, and was stuck in the aircraft as rescuers were forced to cut through the canopy to get the pilot. The pilot sustained several injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. The crew member in the back seat was not injured.
The F-16 was destroyed in the mishap, at a total loss of $29.2 million.
While the AIB president found the main cause of the crash was the pilot landing with excess airspeed, the board also found other contributions to the mishap were environmental conditions affecting the pilot’s vision, a misperception of the changing environment, and the pilot not following procedure for braking on a wet runway."
http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/...-16-Crash.aspx
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 4th Nov 2017 at 05:00. Reason: extra URL
The pilot considered the crosswinds at the airport and decided to fly a faster approach of 160-165 knots. The aircraft’s data recorder, however, showed the F-16 crossed the runway approach end threshold at 193 knots. which “significantly increased the distance required to land” the F-16, according to the ACC Accident Investigation Board report released Friday.
The F-16 touched down about 4,764 feet down the wet runway at a speed of 25 knots above computed touchdown speed, leaving 6,137 feet of prepared surface left. The pilot was unable to stop and entered the overrun at 50 knots, overturning in the grass.
The F-16 touched down about 4,764 feet down the wet runway at a speed of 25 knots above computed touchdown speed, leaving 6,137 feet of prepared surface left. The pilot was unable to stop and entered the overrun at 50 knots, overturning in the grass.