ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 24, 1994                   TAG: 9403240194
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.                                LENGTH: Medium

AIR FORCE MID-AIR CRASH KILLS 16

An Air Force F-16D collided in the air with another plane while trying to land Wednesday and crashed to the runway in flames, spewing debris that ignited a huge transport plane and skidding into a staging area filled with paratroopers. Sixteen people were killed and 82 injured.

The two pilots aboard the F-16D ejected successfully and the other plane, a C-130 transport, landed safely with five crew members aboard, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Bobby Floyd. All seven crew members were in good condition.

The fatalities were on the ground and in the C-141 transport plane that was preparing to take off with paratroopers for training exercises, said Gene Sexton, deputy chief of public affairs at adjacent Fort Bragg. Most of the injuries consisted of burns and broken bones.

After the pilots ejected, the F-16D crashed and burst into flames, sending engines and sheared metal flying, Floyd said. The crash occurred about 2:30 p.m.

The hulk of the fighter plane skidded past parked transport planes and into the staging area where paratroopers were preparing for exercises.

"Every unit on Fort Bragg had someone in that area at that time," said Sgt. 1st Class Skip Richey.

Maj. Jim Hinnant, an Army spokesman at Fort Bragg, said 20 of the injured were treated and released and the rest remained hospitalized Wednesday.

Identification of the victims was being withheld Wednesday night pending notification of relatives.

Defense Secretary William Perry, flying home from an eight-day trip to the former Soviet Union, issued a statement offering "profound sympathies and condolences to the families of those who have been killed or injured."

The F-16D and the C-130 both were practicing landing when they collided, Floyd said. The C-130 had completed its training exercise with paratroopers and was returning to Pope nearly empty.

As the F-16D skidded on the tarmac, part of the debris hit the C-141's fuel tanks, igniting a blaze that took firefighters 30 minutes to extinguish.

The fighter then skidded off the runway and into an area where Army troops from the 82nd Airborne, the 18th Aviation Brigade and other Fort Bragg units were preparing for jumping exercises.

The fighter that crashed was assigned to the 74th Fighter Squadron and the C-130 to the 2nd Airlift Squadron, both at Pope. The C-141 was assigned to the 438th Airlift Wing at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.

A hot line has been set up at Fort Bragg. For information, call (800) 457-4636.

Keywords:
FATALITY 


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