Air Force Cites Pilot Error in Fatal Crash
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FT. WORTH — An Air Force investigator has found that pilot error, and not an aircraft malfunction, caused the crash of an F-16 in May.
Air Force investigators attributed the crash to “momentary complacency” on the part of the pilot, Joe Bill Dryden, who was killed.
“The fact that this type of accident occurred at all was very surprising to all concerned,” Col. Edward L. Daniel of Eglin Air Force Base said in a report made public Tuesday.
About four seconds before the aircraft crashed into a field, Dryden ejected at an altitude of 626 feet. The altitude was too low and it was too late to avoid a fireball that consumed the aircraft on impact.
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