Clipped Antenna May Have Started Chain Of Events

Nobody flew all weekend at Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany after a safety stand-down following a controlled ejection from an F-16 on Thursday.

Viper pilot 1st Lt. Trevor Merrell, struck an antenna on the airfield during his landing approach and subsequently was unable to lower his landing gear. After spending time attempting to fix the problem, including calling Lockheed-Martin back in the states, the aircraft began running on fumes and the decision was made to eject.

Col. Darryl Roberson, commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing, said “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to [fix it] before the jet ran out of gas and was forced into a situation where he had to do a controlled bailout.” The plane fell a few miles from the base according the Stars and Stripes newspaper. There was no discussion, evidently, regarding attempting a belly landing. Roberson said Saturday that investigators will determine whether striking the antenna caused the plane’s landing gear problem.

The plane had just completed a routine training mission when the mishap occurred. The F-16 crashed into a cow pasture with the loss of a few trees. Lt. Merrell, 28 is from Mountain Green, UT  and received minor injuries after landing about a mile from the wreckage.

He won't be flying again until the Air Force completes the investigation.

FMI: www.af.mil