JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Pacific Air Forces released the results of its investigation into an F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft mishap at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, on Dec. 2, 2019.
An F-16C assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing crashed Dec. 2, 2019, at 3:37 p.m. local Korea Standard Time, due to the right main landing gear collapsing. Upon initial contact with the runway, the aircraft uncontrollable during the landing phase of flight. The aircraft departed the runway and the pilot successfully ejected.
The incident did not result in any serious injuries, fatalities or damage to private property.
The Accident Investigation Board president found this mishap was caused by a failure of the right main landing gear downlock actuator, causing the right main landing gear to collapse. Specifically, the tension on the main landing gear was great enough to overcome the force of the downlock actuator, resulting in a collapse of the right main landing gear. This is a known issue for F-16C/D models with Blocks 40/42/50/52 and is addressed by Time Compliance Technical Order 1F-16-2855. Following the incident, the 8th Fighter Wing implemented this Technical Order to ensure the future safety of its airmen and fleet.
In accordance with AFI 51-503, Aerospace and Ground Accident Investigations, the accident investigation board conducted a legal investigation to inquire into all the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident, prepared a publicly-releasable report, and obtained and preserved all available evidence for use in litigation, claims, disciplinary action and adverse administrative action.
A copy of the full report may be requested by emailing pacaf.paops@us.af.mil.