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Narrative: The F-16 operated by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds as #6, force landed to high desert terrain south of City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport/Peterson Air Force Base (KCOS), Colorado Springs, Colorado, during a flyover in celebration of Air Force Academy graduation. The pilot ejected prior to ground contact. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard was uninjured.
The mishap occurred after a flyby of the United States Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs. After beginning landing procedures, the pilot inadvertently rotated the throttle, placing it into an engine cut-off position. Normally, this full rotation cannot occur unless a throttle trigger is affirmatively actuated or pressed. However, the throttle trigger was “stuck” in the “pressed” position. The accident investigation board observed debris accumulation in the throttle trigger, combined with wear on the trigger assembly. Once the engine cut-off occurred, the aircraft immediately lost thrust.