What happened
On July 7, 2015, a mid-air collision occurred near Moncks Corner, South Carolina, involving a United States Air Force fighter jet and a civilian light aircraft. The incident took place approximately thirty miles north of Charleston at an altitude of roughly 1,450 feet.
The military aircraft was a General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon with registration 96-0085. It was conducting an instrument training mission and was under the guidance of air traffic control. The controller had issued a descent to 1,600 feet for an approach to Joint Base Charleston and provided traffic advisories regarding another aircraft.
The civilian aircraft was a privately owned Cessna 150M with registration N3601V. It was operating under visual flight rules from Berkeley County Airport toward Myrtle Beach. The pilot was not in communication with air traffic control at the time of the collision.
Radar data indicates that the F-16 was approximately half a nautical mile northeast of the Cessna when they intersected. Despite controller instructions to turn left if the traffic was not sighted, the fighter jet continued its descent path. The two planes collided broadside while the Cessna was climbing. The F-16 remained airborne for three additional minutes before the pilot ejected safely. Both occupants of the Cessna 150M were killed in the crash.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board led the inquiry into the accident. Investigators determined that the primary cause was the failure of air traffic control to maintain adequate separation between the two aircraft. The controller had provided traffic information but did not ensure conflict resolution when the F-16 pilot indicated he was looking for the target.
Findings
The investigation concluded that air traffic control errors were the contributing factor. Specifically, the failure to provide appropriate conflict resolution instructions led directly to the collision. The Federal Aviation Administration also conducted its own review of the incident.