2015 Moncks Corner mid-air collision

2015 Monck's Corner mid-air collision

F-16, similar to the accident aircraft.
Accident summary
Date July 7, 2015 (2015-07-07)
Summary Mid-air collision due to Air Traffic Control error
Site Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States
First aircraft
Type General Dynamics F-16C Block 50 Fighting Falcon
Operator United States Air Force
Registration 96-0085
Flight origin Shaw AFB
Destination Joint Base Charleston
Crew 1
Survivors 1 (all)
Second aircraft

Cessna 150M, similar to the accident aircraft
Type Cessna 150M
Registration N3601V
Flight origin Berkeley County Airport
Destination Myrtle Beach International Airport
Passengers 1
Crew 1
Fatalities 2 (all)

On July 7, 2015, a General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon operated by the United States Air Force collided in-flight with a civilian Cessna 150M over Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States. Both occupants of the Cessna were killed; the pilot of the F-16 ejected safely.

Accident

The F-16 was a United States Air Force General Dynamics F-16C Block 50 Fighting Falcon,[1] serial number 96-0085.[2] It was based at Shaw Air Force Base,[3] and it was operated by the 20th Fighter Wing.[4] The Cessna was a Cessna 150M,[5] registration N3601V.[6]

At about 11:00 AM on July 7, 2015, the F-16 and Cessna 150 collided over Moncks Corner, South Carolina, about 30 miles (48 km) north of Charleston.[3] Witnesses state that the Cessna was climbing when the F-16 hit it broadside.[7] The aircraft were at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 feet.[1] Air Traffic Control at Myrtle Beach International Airport had advised the pilot of the F-16 of the presence of the Cessna. The F-16 flew for a further three minutes before the pilot transmitted a mayday call. He then ejected safely.[8][9] Both aircraft crashed in Lewisfield Plantation.[3] Both occupants of the Cessna 150 were killed.[10] The body of the passenger has been located, but not that of the pilot/owner.[11][12] The pilot of the F-16 was on an instrument training mission. Its destination was Joint Base Charleston.[4] The Cessna was reported to be on a flight from Berkeley County Airport to Myrtle Beach.[7]

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation into the accident.[13] A preliminary report was published on July 18.[8] The cause of the accident was found to be Air Traffic Control errors in failing to provide an appropriate conflict resolution between the two aircraft.[14] The Federal Aviation Administration also opened an investigation.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "F-16 collides with Cessna over South Carolina". f-16.net. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Airframe Details for F-16 #96-0085". f-16.net. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "F-16, Cessna collide over Berkeley County plantation". ABC News. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Botelho, Greg; Nottingham, Shawn. "F-16 jet, Cessna airplane collide over South Carolina". CNN. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Aircraft Registration (N3601V)". Flight Aware. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ "FAA Accident and Incident Notification(s): Notice(s) Created 08-JUL-15". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Pager, Tyler. "2 killed after F-16, Cessna collide over S.C.". USA Today. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "NTSB Identification: ERA15FA259A". National Transportation Safety Board. July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Two Dead In F-16-Cessna Collision". AVweb. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ Santos, Suzelle; Phillips, Patrick. "NTSB: 2 killed aboard Cessna in midair collision with F-16". Tucson News Now. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Cessna 150, F-16 collision: Body of passenger found as search for pilot continues". CBC News. July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ "FAA Registry – Aircraft – N-Number Inquiry". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Shaw Air Force Base F-16 pilot taken to Joint Base Charleston". The State. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Educating Controllers on Two Midair Collisions" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.

Coordinates: 33°11′46″N 80°00′36″W / 33.196°N 80.010°W / 33.196; -80.010

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.