JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Headquarters Pacific Air Forces today released the results of its investigation into an F-16CM aircraft mishap which occurred March 21, 2012, northeast of Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The mishap aircraft was assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, ROK.
Gen. Gary North, then the Pacific Air Forces commander, directed an investigation into the incident which resulted in the destruction of the aircraft totaling more than $21.5 million.
The accident investigation board found evidence the cause of the mishap was engine failure and subsequent engine stall.
The pilot performed the appropriate emergency checklist procedures in an attempt to recover the engine, but it did not respond and continued operating in a degraded state until impact. After safely ejecting, the pilot was transported to Kunsan Air Base medical clinic by the 6th Search and Rescue Group, Republic of Korea Air Force. The clinic examination revealed the pilot sustained no injuries.
Lt. Col. William Jones served as the Accident Investigation Board president. Colonel Jones is the 8th Operations Group deputy commander, Kunsan Air Base. Colonel Jones is a command pilot with more than 1,900 flight hours, to include the T-38 Talon and the F-16.
For a copy of the Accident Investigation Board report, visit: https://www.pacaf.af.mil/library/publicreports/index.asp.