Accident investigation report released for fatal F-16 crash at Shaw Air Force Base in June

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– On Monday, Air Combat Command released the accident investigation board report for the fatal F-16 crash that occurred on June 30 at Shaw Air Force Base.

According to the report, 1st Lt. David Schmitz, 32, was attempting a nighttime air-to-air refueling as part of a mission qualification training flight when the refueling was unsuccessful so he returned to Shaw Air Force Base due to lack of fuel. During his approach, authorities say his aircraft struck a localizer antenna array short of the runway threshold which caused severe damage to the left landing gear. After a brief touch down and go-around, the aircraft attempted an approach-end cable arrestment. The report says the aircraft’s tail hook did not catch the cable and the left wing struck the runway. Officials say Schmitz ejected from the aircraft but the parachute mechanism did not deploy, causing the pilot to strike the ground still in his seat, killing him instantly.

“This accident is a tragic reminder of the inherent risks of fighter aviation and our critical oversight responsibilities required for successful execution,” said Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command. “The AIB report identified a sequence of key execution anomalies and material failures that resulted in this mishap. For example, in order to account for the increased demands and pilot workload involved with night flying, Air Force Instructions mandate pilots demonstrate proficiency in events like aerial refueling in the daytime before attempting them at night. That didn’t occur for this officer, and when we have oversight breakdowns or failures of critical egress systems, it is imperative that we fully understand what transpired, meticulously evaluate risk, and ensure timely and effective mitigations are in place to reduce or eliminate future mishaps.”

The accident investigation board report states the cause of the accident as the pilot’s failure to correctly interpret the approach lighting system and identify the runway threshold during his first landing attempt, which resulted in a severely damaged landing gear.