U.S. Air Force Aerospace Mishap Reports: Accident Investigation Board Report on Mishap Involving F-16C at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Due to Pilot Error, Killing a Civilian Contractor

This Air Force accident report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Headquarters Air Education and Training Command released its Accident Investigation Board report from the aircraft accident involving an F-16C at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Jan. 31, 2017. Members of the board found that the cause of the mishap was pilot error. The investigation also identified that the instructor pilot's failed supervision and instruction were significant contributing factors for the mishap. The board determined that the incident, which left one civilian contractor deceased and one trainee injured, involved the use of training projectiles.

The Accident Investigation Board President (AIB BP) found, by the preponderance of evidence, that the cause of the mishap was pilot error. The MP misperceived that the ground element's location was the intended target. The MP misinterpreted his instruments and failed to follow his on-board systems directing him to the proper target. The AIB BP found, by the preponderance of evidence, the MIP's failed supervision and instruction substantially contributed to the mishap. Specifically, that his failed cross-monitoring of the MP's performance during the MP's fatal strafing attack, his task misprioritization (focusing on coordinating and controlling other aircraft while the MP was performing the strafing attack), and his overconfidence, complacency and overaggresiveness during the mishap sortie substantially contributed to the mishap.