First Lt. David Schmitz from the 77th Fighter Squadron was performing a routine training mission in a F-16CM Fighting Falcon when he misjudged his landing forcing a go-around
* First Lt. David Schmitz from the 77th Fighter Squadron was performing a routine training mission in a F-16CM Fighting Falcon when he misjudged his landing
* Jet came down too early striking antenna after misinterpreting approach lights
* The collision damaged the aircraft's landing gear so Schmitz opted to go-around
* Upon discussions with the control tower it was decided he would use an arrest hook to slow the plane down using a steel cable at the end of the runway
* But the plane's hydraulics systems had been damaged during first landing attempt making it difficult to control * Upon touching down at 120 knots, Schmitz ejected from the aircraft
* The ejection seat's parachute failed to deploy sending Schmitz plummeting to earth and killing him instantly
* An accident report revealed it was known the seat was malfunctioning but repairs were deferred for several years due to a lack of parts
The U.S. Air Force say that a pilot who was killed while attempting to land his F-16 Fighting Falcon at Shaw Air Force Base, in South Carolina, died after his ejection seat malfunctioned and his parachute failed to deploy.
First Lt. David Schmitz, 32, from the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, died on June 30 while attempting to land during a routine night-time training mission in a F-16CM Fighting Falcon.
An accident report has now revealed the chain of events that led up to his tragic death. On his first attempt at landing, Schmitz reportedly misinterpreting the runway approach lights and came in too early, hitting an antenna and damaging his landing gear.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: People should be held accountable for this ..... Schmitz was killed instantly. An Accident Investigation Branch report revealed it was known the seat was malfunctioning but repairs were deferred for several years due to a lack of parts.
More News On A Fatal U.S. Air Force F-16 Crash
Pilot error, leadership failures and faulty ejection seat led to fatal June F-16 crash at Shaw -- Air Force Magazine
Pilot Error, Ejection Seat Problems Caused Fatal F-16 Crash -- Air Force Magazine
Shaw Air Force pilot killed in F-16 crash died when ejector seat failed, new report says -- Post Courier
