TFR Issued For Crash Site Investigation

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 01.19.07 1430 EST: The recovery of an Air Force T-38C trainer that crashed in northern Mississippi Thursday has prompted the FAA to issue a Temporary Flight Restriction in the area.

Memphis, TN television station WHBQ reports the aircraft (file photo of type, above) was based at Columbus Air Force Base, and was flying a "low level navigation training exercise" when it crashed at about 1:30 pm Thursday. Both crewmembers onboard ejected safely.

NOTAM 71336 is in effect from now until January 26, to allow Air Force crews to recover the wreckage and conduct an investigation into the accident.

Media reports indicate two hunters in the area at the time of the crash aided in recovery of the two pilots.

"They noticed two (pilots) that parachuted out of the airplane," said Chief Deputy Otis Griffin of the Panola County Sheriff's Department. "One landed in trees and one landed in water. The duck hunters got on their four wheelers and rescued the two pilots."

"They both were uninjured," Griffin added. "One was just wet and one was hanging in the trees by the parachute."

FMI: www.columbus.af.mil, www.tfr.faa.gov