F-15 pilot cited for causing mid-air crash

[unhappycamper]

F-15 pilot cited for causing mid-air crash
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 30, 2007 15:18:57 EST

An F-15C Eagle pilot has been cited for causing the mid-air collision that cost more than $1 million in repairs to the F-16 Fighting Falcon he struck in the June 11 accident.

The accident occurred during Red Flag-Alaska, a large-scale air combat exercise involving dozens of aircraft over central Alaska. Neither pilot was injured.

According to the accident investigation board report released Nov. 30 by Air Combat Command, Maj. Jason W. Costello of the 71st Fighter Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va., was so focused on pursing his next targets that he did not realize he had dived into airspace set aside for other aircraft, in this case an F-16 flown by Maj. Brett Paola of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Costello never saw the F-16. Paola didn’t spot the F-15 until it was about 3,000 feet away, giving him time enough to turn to the right. When the jets collided, Costello was flying at about 600 mph and Paola at about 445 mph. The impact left Costello’s $33 million jet uncontrollable. It crashed. The F-16 sustained damage to its left wing, left stabilator and tail fin.

Paola landed his F-16 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Costello bailed out at 26,000 feet and came down in wooded area about 80 miles away.

Costello had 1,580 flying hours and was rated as an instructor pilot and served as his squadron’s deputy director of operations. Paola was a reservist with 1,413 flying hours. He began flying operational F-16s in 1999.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_f15_f16_accident_071130w/