ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 171020
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Thursday 6 November 2014 |
| Time: | 9.:15 LT |
| Type: |  General Dynamics F-16C Block 30B Fighting Falcon |
| Owner/operator: | 82d ATSqn USAF |
| Registration: | 85-1502 |
| MSN: | 5C-282 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Gulf of Mexico, about 60 miles south of Panama City, Florida -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Tyndall AFB,fla (KPAM) |
| Tyndall AFB,fla (KPAM) | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Rescue crews are searching for an F-16 fighter jet that apparently crashed in the Gulf of Mexico early Thursday, according to the Coast Guard and Air Force. The pilot — the only person on board — has not been found.
The F-16, assigned to the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base in northwest Florida, was on a routine training mission over the Gulf when the base lost contact with the pilot at about 9:15 a.m., the Air Force said.
The jet went down about 60 miles south of Panama City, Florida, the Coast Guard said. Details of the incident (according to the official USAF Press Release:
"325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
11/7/2014 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla -- Tyndall officials have identified the F-16 pilot involved in a Nov. 6 aircraft incident as Matthew J. LaCourse, age 58, of Panama City Beach.
"I can attest that he was an exceptional pilot and leader," said Col. Alexus Grynkewich, 53rd Wing commander. "His dedication to the mission of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, and his caring and compassion for the Airmen who accomplish it--uniformed, civilian and contractor--was more than evident. He's been part of the 53rd Wing family for a the better part of two decades, and his departure leaves us without a great Airmen and fighter pilot."
The aircraft, assigned to the 53rd WEG, was performing a routine training mission over the Gulf of Mexico when the base lost contact with the pilot at approximately 9:15 a.m. Nov. 6. Aircraft and rescue forces were immediately dispatched to the missing jet's last known location. The U.S. Coast Guard, supported by Tyndall AFB officials, conducted search and rescue efforts.
LaCourse was a Department of the Air Force civilian pilot assigned to the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron of the 53rd WEG. A native of San Antonio, Texas, LaCourse graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1978, and retired as an lieutenant colonel in 2000 with more than 22 years' service in the Air Force.
Recovery operations continue to collect evidence to assist qualified officers assembled to conduct Safety and Accident investigations into the cause of this crash. There will be no further details released about this incident until these investigations are completed.
The 53rd WEG is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The pilot killed in a November crash over the Gulf of Mexico became disoriented and lost sight of the lead aircraft during a training exercise, according to an accident investigation.
Matthew LaCourse was attempting to intercept another aircraft during the Nov. 6 exercise when he performed maneuvers that threw off his perception and orientation, according to a report released Tuesday by the Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board.
Investigators believe the maneuvers "stimulated fluid in his inner ear canals which are responsible for perceptions of gravity, balance, movement, and direction."
"As a result, he misperceived his angle of bank, angle of pitch, and general position and became spatially disoriented, which resulted in his crash," the report said.
Sources:
https://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/11/f-16_pilots_remains_recovered.html
http://www.breakingnews.com/topic/jet-crashes-in-gulf-of-mexico-nov-6-2014/
https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/f-16-viper-out-of-tyndall-afb-goes-missing-60-miles-off-1655727067
http://web.archive.org/web/20150707001335/http://www.newsherald.com/military/tyndall-air-force-base/air-force-officials-identify-pilot-killed-in-f-16-crash-1.398386?page=0
https://www.facebook.com/325FWTyndall?fref=nf
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pilot-killed-air-force-f-16-crashes-gulf-mexico-n2430
http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/airframe-profile/1858/
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2015/09/09/f-16-pilot-killed-in-nov-crash-became-disoriented/
[LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.acc.af.mil/media/archives/story.asp?id=123457791]
Media:
BREAKING: #CoastGuard and #TyndallAFB recover body of pilot in #F16Crash. ID withheld until family members notified. More on @wmbbnews at 10
— Casey Liening (@wmbbcasey) November 7, 2014Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Nov-2014 05:11 | wildtuna | Added |
| 07-Nov-2014 07:26 | Chieftain | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Plane category] |
| 07-Nov-2014 07:26 | iceman 29 | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Phase, Source, Narrative, Plane category] |
| 07-Nov-2014 10:57 | Chieftain | Updated [Date, Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 20-Nov-2014 16:35 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Aircraft type, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 21-Nov-2015 18:24 | El_serj | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Embed code] |
| 15-Jan-2016 13:15 | Lorenzo Lamas | Updated [Operator] |
| 21-Jan-2016 20:31 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 02-Mar-2021 09:02 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation