Nellis F-16C collision blamed on pilot errors

Errors by pilots caused two F-16C Fighting Falcon jets to collide on a runway at Nellis Air Force Base after landing for a Red Flag air combat exercise orientation flight in August, Air Combat Command officials said Monday.

One pilot was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries but has survived. Combined damage costs to the aircraft totaled roughly $70 million, according to the accident investigation board’s report.

“One pilot’s landing, lack of comprehensive braking and flight path deconfliction, combined with a second pilot’s delayed transition to the correct side of the runway led to the collision,” said a statement from Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

One F-16C was destroyed for a loss of $64 million. The other sustained $5.4 in damage in the Aug. 15 collision.

The pilots and aircraft were assigned to the 457th Fighter Squadron, 301st Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas.

Rescue personnel arrived at the collision site in about 1 minute.

“The first responders freed the injured pilot, who had sustained life-threatening injuries,” reads Air Combat Command’s news release.

The pilots’ names were not released.

Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find @KeithRogers2 on Twitter.