Incident Overview
A solo student pilot in a single-engine airplane crossed flight paths with a military F-16 fighter jet. Following the encounter, the airplane entered an increasingly steep descent and subsequently impacted terrain.
Flight Details
The student pilot departed from an airport and climbed toward a designated practice area. After reaching 4,500 feet, the pilot reduced power and initiated a 500-foot-per-minute descent. At that point, the on-board Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) may have alerted the pilot to traffic approaching from her right side near her altitude. The sun was also positioned off her right side at an elevation of 31 degrees above the horizon.
Encounter with F-16
Within seconds, an F-16 fighter jet crossed in front of the student's airplane from right to left. Radar data analysis determined the closest point of approach between the two aircraft was 1,850 feet laterally and 400 feet vertically. A study of the wake turbulence produced by the F-16 indicated that the generated vortices could not have descended low enough to affect the student's airplane.
Descent and Impact
After the F-16 passed, the student's airplane continued a linear descent that became increasingly steep, ultimately exceeding 2,500 feet per minute. The aircraft impacted terrain in a 50-degree nose-down, right-wing-down attitude, approximately 29 seconds after the encounter.
Investigation Findings
Multiple detailed examinations of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. A review of the student's available medical records, autopsy results, and toxicology analysis did not reveal any physiological inconsistencies. While it is possible the student pilot lost consciousness following a presumed near collision, insufficient information was available to fully support that hypothesis.