AF investigators cite pilot error in fighter crash

AF investigators cite pilot error in fighter crash

(EXCERPT) , By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition,
Saturday, January 10, 2004

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Poor situational awareness was the
likely cause of a Sept. 9 fighter crash into the Yellow Sea, Air Force
investigators announced Thursday.

An accident investigation board faulted both Capt. Kevin Dydyk, the
35th Fighter Squadron pilot whose F-16 plunged into the ocean about 56
miles southwest of Kunsan Air Base, and Capt. Todd Houchins, a pilot
acting as instructor for the flight.

Col. Bennet Bitler, investigation board president, concluded the crash
was caused by “poor technique for maintaining floor awareness” and the
belief that neither pilot “gained enough situational awareness early
enough to prevent the F-16 from impacting the water,” according to an
Air Force news release.

According to the investigation report, Dydyk was the lead pilot in a
two-plane formation conducting defensive dogfight maneuvers over the
Yello...

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Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
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