Trigger On Laser Sight May Have Contributed To Mishap

The Air National Guard says an F-16 pilot on a night training mission ignored a warning that might have kept him from accidentally strafing a school in New Jersey.

The report says Maj. Roberto Balzano, an experienced F-16 driver, was warned not to use the trigger-mounted laser activation switch when his cannon was unsafed.

But that's apparently just what Balzano did -- activated the laser to illuminate his target through night-vision goggles -- as he rolled in on his final turn to the strafing run. As a result, Balzano blasted the Egg Harbor Intermediate School on November 3rd, according to the ANG report.

While the ANG report cited pilot error as the leading cause in the accident, it also noted that the accident was at least partly caused by poor design. At least three other times this year, F-16 pilots have suffered the exact same problem while practicing night strafing runs, according to the New York Times. There were no other reports of damage as a result.

As soon as his cannon accidentally fired, Balzano radioed his wingman, Major Kirk Pierce -- who just happened to be Balzano's instructor.

Major Pierce: "Were you trying to mark or something?"

Major Balzano: "Yes."

Major Pierce: "That's what we talked about. Don't do that."

Major Balzano: "Yeah."

Major Pierce: "That's why I covered that in the brief."

The result: Twenty-seven 20mm cannon rounds impacted the school. Since it happened after 2300, there was no one in the school at the time. No one was hurt.

What will happen to Major Balzano? At this point, there's no word.

FMI: www.ang.af.mil