Accident General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon 87-0335,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 46548
 
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Date:Tuesday 27 July 1993
Time:15:31 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic F16 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon
Owner/operator:35th TFSqn /8th TFWg USAF
Registration: 87-0335
MSN: 5C-596
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:Kunsan AB, North Jerolla Province -   South Korea
Phase: Landing
Nature:Military
Departure airport:McDill AFB, Tampa Florida (MCF/KMCF)
Destination airport:Kunsan AB, South Korea (KUN/RKJK)
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
Written off July 27 1993: as F-16C 87-0335 (call sign STINGRAY 01) was preparing for take off from Kunsan AB, South Korea, F-16C (86-0275, call sing SLAP 02) landed on top of it. One of the pilots involved, Lt. Col. Ralph Earl "Bark" Gardner, in 87-0335 who had just arrived at Kunsan AB, Korea from MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida, was killed. The other pilot, Captain Richard D. LeBlanc, survived the incident.

According to the following extract (albeit redacted/censored) from the official USAF report into the incident:

"On 27 July 93 at 3:31 PM, a United States Air Force F-16C, Block 30, Serial Number 86-0275, call sign Slap 02, collided with a United States Air Force F-16C, Block 30, Serial Number 87-0335, call sign Stingray 01, at 35 degrees 53 minutes 30 seconds north latitude, 126 degrees 37 minutes 5 seconds east longitude on the approach end of Runway 36, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic Of Korea, fatally injuring the pilot of Stingray 01. Lieutenant Colonel Ralph E. Gardner, a United States Air Force pilot assigned as the Chief of Safety, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, ROK, was the pilot of Stingray 01.

Slap 02 was flown by Captain Richard D. Le Blanc, a United States Air Force pilot assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Operations Group, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic Of Korea. Slap 02 was returning from his second flight of the day, a training mission that originated at Kunsan Air Base at 2:34 PM. Stingray 01 was just beginning the take off roll for his second flight of the day, a single-shlp training mission, when the mishap occurred.

The accident occurred on, and was confined to Kunsan Air Base, which is on Korean government property. Stingray 01 was totally destroyed by the collision and resulting fire."

Sources:

1. http://www.scramble.nl [Scramble 348]
2. http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/mishaps-and-accidents/year/1993/16/
3. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1987.html
4. http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0302/ML030240313.pdf

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
04-Nov-2008 10:35 ASN archive Added
10-Nov-2013 19:51 Dr. John Smith Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative]
10-Nov-2013 19:52 Dr. John Smith Updated [Country, Source, Embed code]
16-Feb-2021 10:04 Nepa Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Operator]

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