Small things matter

Combat Edge, March, 2002 by Kevin G. Kenkel

It was a beautiful day as I made a circular motion with my index finger giving the flight the engine run-up signal. JayJay flight was four F-16 Fighting Falcons with engines screaming at 80 percent power preparing for takeoff. The flight passed a head nod down the line signaling that all engines were operating correctly and all systems were go. As JayJay 1, I led the flight on a 20-second trail departure. I pushed the throttle forward to military power simultaneously releasing the groaning brakes, rotated the throttle grip outboard selecting full afterburner (AB), and rocketed down the runway feeling all five stages of the AB smoothly light.

Life does not get much better than this - four-ship, low level to the range, followed by some range work and then recovery to Luke Air Patch, Ariz. Do I feel like King Kong or what? Little did I know, the well-oiled sortie of perfection I had briefed would result in the loss of a $25 million jet and a pilot nearly losing his life.

The flight went like clockwork through the recovery portion. On return to base, the flight stayed in two-plus-two tactical formation as we lined up for recovery at Luke Air Base. Up to this point, things had gone great - low level to a first strike attack within 2 seconds for both JayJay 2 and 4 and seven passes on the range with the new pilots having all bombs well within qualifying criteria. Strafe scores were greater than 50 percent for each flight member - outstanding.

As we finished our Battle Damage checks flying the Valley Recovery into Luke, I heard Luke Approach working a runway change and departing traffic from our designated runway. I also heard a flight checking in for recovery from the northern ranges. While listening to the radio, I heard approach call an air-to-air flight, Cuda 1, informing them they were following a four-ship of F-16s into the overhead pattern at Luke.

The hair started standing up on the back of my neck as I realized they were talking about my four-ship already jinking as F-16s were ripping off the runway at Luke heading south in a climb while we headed north in a descent. Not to worry, we were in the easy part of the mission now - Luke Approach could see our squawks and would provide vectors to separate all the traffic. Cuda 1 called "Tally-Ho" on the four-ship as JayJay flight accomplished two delayed 90 degree turns to line up on tactical initial at Luke. Cuda 1 followed our lead for recovery to the overhead traffic pattern.

The six aircraft cruised down initial at 300 knots oblivious to any other problems. We checked in with Luke Tower at the initial point calling for a full stop. Just as JayJay 1 and JayJay 2 start their break for the full stop, Luke Tower cleared Rambo flight, a two-ship finishing an instrument approach, for a sequential closed pattern.

BIG PROBLEM -- there is no way for my second element to fly an overhead pattern in front of Rambo flight. I quickly called JayJay 3 on the VHF radio and told him to pick up the Rambo flight and pitch behind them for a full stop. JayJay 3 acknowledged the call with a "Tally-Ho" on the traffic and executed his pitchout behind Rambo flight. Cuda flight, now the number seven and eight aircraft in the pattern, would follow behind JayJay 4.

I let go a big sigh of relief. All eight aircraft were now lined up on inside downwind to land although my flight of four was separated by Rambo flight.

"JayJay 1, base, gear down, full stop on the left."

"JayJay 2, base, gear down, full stop on the left."

"Rambo 1, base, gear down, low approach."

"Rambo 2, base, gear down, low approach."

"JayJay 3, base, gear down, full stop on the left."

"JayJay 4, base, gear down, full stop on the left."

"Cuda 1, base, gear down, touch and go."

"Cuda 2, base, gear down, low approach."

Not too bad. Tower personnel responded to each call with the right clearance. However, Cuda 2 asked if the right or left runway was open and confusion reined as tower personnel stated unequivocally that only the left runway was open. Barrier maintenance personnel were still rigging the BAK-14 cable on the departure end of the right runway. All of a sudden there was a lot of mayhem and chaos on the radios as I braked my F-16 to taxi speed on roll out.

As I started to clear the runway, I saw an F-16 over my left shoulder about 100 feet in the air, nose pointed straight down. The aircraft impacted the ground in a nose low attitude creating a fireball that extended to almost 1,000 feet in the air What happened? How did this F-16 crash? I was silent as I taxied into the dearm area, out of the way, wondering who that was and what had happened.

The fireball created madhouse action as the dearm crew watched the fireball with little regard for the F-16 waiting to be dearmed. Tower personnel started the crash recovery with fire trucks racing to assist the downed aircraft. Numerous other calls continued as other airborne aircraft determined where they were going to land given the accident at Luke. JayJay 2 taxied in to the dearm lining up the canopy rails followed by JayJay 3. As JayJay 3 taxied in he called: