Poor situational awareness was the likely cause of an F-16 Fighting Falcon crash in South Korea on Sept. 9, a U.S. Air Force investigation team determined.

Capt. Kevin Dydyk, of the 35th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, sustained minor injuries when the aircraft he was flying crashed into the Yellow Sea about 56 miles southwest of the base.

Neither Captain Dydyk nor Capt. Tood Houchins, an instructor pilot flying another F-16, gained enough situational awareness of a low-altitude condition early enough to prevent the crash, according to the investigation report.

Captain Dydyk was flying lead in a two-ship training formation over the Yellow Sea when the mishap occurred.

On the final mission of the day he unknowingly set-up and began the engagement 800 feet above the briefed "floor" altitude limit of 5,000 feet.

Immediately after Captain Houchins made the "fight's on" call, Captain Dydyk began a series of maneuvers resulting in the aircraft descending below the altitude limit. When he realized his altitude he immediately called "terminate" and began recovering. Three seconds later he ejected and the aircraft hit the water one second later.

Search-and-rescue personnel rescued Captain Dydyk after about 90 minutes. Investigators determined Captain Dydyk failed to crosscheck his aircraft's altitude during the mission engagement and did not know his altitude or proximity to the water until he reached about 1,500 feet above the sea.

Investigators also determined Captain Houchins failed to recognize the non-standard set-up before the start of the mission. Captain Houchins was not aware of either aircraft's proximity to the floor or the water until the mishap aircraft hit the water, at which time he recovered his own F-16 aircraft 450 feet above the water.

FMI: www.af.mil