F-16 and Cessna collide in North Carolina

[BanzaiCat]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/07/07/f16-crash-south-carolina/29815069/

An F-16 and a Cessna collided in midair in South Carolina on Tuesday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed.

The crash occurred about 11 miles north of Charleston, S.C. at about 11 a.m, the FAA said.

Berkeley County spokesman Michael Mule confirmed to USA TODAY there was a crash in Lewisfield Plantation in Moncks Corner.

Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter said on Twitter one of its F-16 "Fighting Falcons" was involved in the crash and the pilot had been accounted for.

The pilot ejected and was rescued and was heading to a hospital, according to a reporter for Live 5 News WCSC in Charleston. That reporter also said the fuselage, the body of the Cessna, had been located.

ABC News 4 in Charleston reported the F-16 was from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C. The S.C. Air National Guard said on Twitter the F-16 was not theirs.

Local news' Twitter feed with some vague pics: https://twitter.com/WCBD/status/618442275996233729/photo/1

Odd that they mention nothing about the passengers of the Cessna (go figure, it's the news, all the facts aren't necessary before jumping all over a potentially gory story). I seriously doubt any of them survived collision with a fighter, obviously, but still.

[Nefaro]

With the amount of aircraft traffic in certain areas of the globe, I'm surprised there aren't more collisions.

[bayonetbrant]

They have SAR birds out looking for the Cessna passengers

The accident was over South Carolina, not North Carolina :)

[OJsDad]

The accident was over South Carolina, not North Carolina :)

There's a difference?   >:D

[BanzaiCat]

Today's USA Today newspaper has a longer story about this accident (and I only know that because the hotel has free copies of it).

It said there were two in the Cessna - a 60-ish man and his 30-something son, both of course dead now. They found the older man's body but are still looking for the younger man's.

Worse, they said that this past Saturday, the older man's brother and sister-in-law were murdered by their son, so that family has been getting beat down hard this week.  :-\

The pilot of the F-16, a major. was taken in for 'evaluation' as is usual, but officials said they "thought" it was overcast and otherwise were unaware of any weather-related issues. Basically, they have absolutely no idea what caused this. Seems to look like human error more than anything. Who's more at fault, though, that remains to be seen.

[Emeraldlis]

This story is tragic , I hope that there families get through this  :(

But it did get me thinking about a holiday I went on a few years back . We were flying back from gran canaria to Ireland , and I was sat on the right hand side of the plane in the window seat . I looked to my right and saw what looked like a "missile" heading straight for us . Other passengers on that side of the plane noticed too , and we were all thinking what the hell is that ?

As it got closer it was another airplane , and it passed above us by no more than maybe 30 foot , it was truly terrifying and we all wondered how close we came to colliding , I'm no aviation expert , but I don't think it was supposed to pass that close . I bet human error definately played a part in that .

It hasn't given me a fear of flying though , I've flown since :)  I don't think you can live life in a "what if" mode , otherwise a lot of life would pass you by . And I love flying !! So I ain't stopping any time soon  :)

[Staggerwing]

Emeraldlis,
Next door to Gran Canaria, on Tenerife, there occurred the worst aviation disaster of all recorded history (and probably prehistory as well...). Back in 1977 almost 600 folks died when two 747s collided on the airport runway there.

[Emeraldlis]

Emeraldlis,
Next door to Gran Canaria, on Tenerife, there occurred the worst aviation disaster of all recorded history (and probably prehistory as well...). Back in 1977 almost 600 folks died when two 747s collided on the airport runway there.

Wow , I'm glad I didn't know that before I went to gran canaria !! It seems like maybe they still haven't got there act together in the aviation safety department when you think that 30 years later two 747s nearly collided in mid air  :'(
I will honestly never forget the sound of the aircraft passing us overhead , and giving a big sigh of relief that we were all still in one piece .
I wonder what caused the collision on the runway in 1977 ? I'm sure the families would have pressed for answers .
I landed in gran canaria at night time , and you could see the outline of all the canaria islands lit up beneath us as we where coming into land , the islands themselves are not that big . I could see Tenerife , which is much smaller than gran canaria , and I spotted lanzarote too . The outline of gran canaria lit up at night was really cool , it resembled a sting ray  :)

[JasonPratt]

Meanwhile, now we know what the Emerald in your name stands for, Lis!  O0

[Emeraldlis]

Meanwhile, now we know what the Emerald in your name stands for, Lis!  O0

Haha you got it in one Jason , I live on the Emerald Isle !!!! And a beautiful place it is too ;)

[JasonPratt]

Always wanted to visit and tour there. Maybe I can when I retire.

Step 1: retire.

Step 2: profit.


...I may have those steps backward...

[Emeraldlis]

Always wanted to visit and tour there. Maybe I can when I retire.

Step 1: retire.

Step 2: profit.


...I may have those steps backward...

Hopefully you'll do all three , profit , retire and travel and tour Ireland  :)

The west coast is stunning if you get a chance to tour . Lots of wild rugid Coast and great beaches , it's easy to fall in love with the place , if you get here you might not want to leave !! I think it's down to the fairy dust and leprechauns , or maybe it's the whiskey and Guinness , lol  :D  either way be prepared to be overawed by the Emerald Isle