Flight safety: award of the quarter

Combat Edge, July, 2004 by Larry Hunter, William Betts

Captain Betts and Major Hunter flew with call signs Kraut 3 and 4 respectively as part of a four-ship defensive counter-air training mission. During the second engagement, Maj Hunter's F-16 aircraft registered a warning light with a corresponding illumination of the hydraulic/oil warning light. Maj Hunter immediately initiated a knock-it-off in accordance with regulations and informed the flight of his oil system malfunction indications. Capt Betts instantly assessed the severity of the situation and directed Maj Hunter to snap to the nearest suitable airfield approximately 40 nautical miles away. Maj Hunter turned towards the emergency airfield and commenced a climb to achieve a 1-to-1 glide ratio. The hydraulic/oil warning light extinguished, but Maj Hunter continued to observe oil pressure fluctuations well outside established technical order limits. Capt Betts, while checking Maj Hunter's aircraft for visible problems, coordinated for Kraut 1 to find information on the emergency airfield. Kraut 1, while coordinating with AWACS, the adversaries, and Fort Worth Center, relayed the following information to Maj Hunter: coordinates for the airfield, the approach and tower frequencies, and the 7,400 foot runway length with no arresting gear (The minimum runway length for the F-16 under normal conditions is 8,000 feet). Upon achieving a 1-to-1 glide ratio to the landing field, Maj Hunter commenced a flawless straight-in simulated flameout landing approach to the unfamiliar and short emergency airfield. Simultaneously, Capt Betts and Maj Hunter switched to the approach frequencies for the emergency airfield. Unable to communicate with approach control, Maj Hunter contacted the control tower. He calmly communicated to the controller that he needed to make an immediate emergency landing. Due to the runway length of only 7,400 feet, Maj Hunter determined he could not stop the aircraft on the runway if he touched down too long or too fast. Once he determined he could safely glide to the runway if the engine failed, he transitioned to a short-field approach in accordance with the F-16 technical order. Maj Hunter executed a flawless short-field landing and touched down on-speed just past the threshold. Maj Hunter stopped the aircraft on the short runway without incident, steered the aircraft clear of the runway, and immediately shut down. Post-flight inspection revealed the engine lost over half of its oil. The phenomenal crew coordination, actions, analysis, and airmanship exhibited by Maj Hunter and Capt Betts undoubtedly prevented a Class A mishap due to engine flameout and the loss of a 30 million dollar combat asset.

Maj Larry Hunter, Capt William Betts, 524th Fighter Sqdn., 27th Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, New Mexico