Summary of Events
On 7 July 2015, at approximately 11:00:55 hours local time, near Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Mishap Aircraft 1 (MA1), an F-16CM (tail number 96-0085) assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, collided with Mishap Aircraft 2 (MA2), a Cessna 150M (registration N3601V) that had departed from Berkeley County Airport, South Carolina. The collision resulted in the destruction of both aircraft. Neither the pilot nor the passenger of the Cessna survived. The F-16 pilot ejected after the engine exhaust module separated during impact, leading to insufficient thrust, and landed with minor injuries. Falling debris from the collision damaged two private travel trailers. MA1 later impacted an uninhabited forest approximately 9 miles south of the collision site. The estimated government loss was $29,161,541.52.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The Board President found, by a preponderance of the evidence, two causes of the mishap: (1) the mishap air traffic controller issued a radar vector directing the F-16 pilot to immediately turn left to 180 degrees (south), placing the two aircraft on a collision course; and (2) the pilots of both aircraft were not able to see and avoid each other in time to prevent the collision. The Board also identified factors that substantially contributed to the mishap: the controller directed the F-16 to fly on a course and at an altitude that increased potential conflicts by passing in close proximity to departure routes of an uncontrolled airfield; the pilots did not use available systems that may have increased situational awareness; and the controller did not provide the F-16 pilot with traffic information in time for him to identify the conflict before issuing the immediate left turn instruction.
Sequence of Events
MA1 was en route from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Charleston, South Carolina, while MA2 had departed Berkeley County Airport near Charleston, en route to Myrtle Beach. MA1 was flying at 1600 feet as directed by the mishap air traffic controller at Charleston Air Traffic Control. The Cessna pilot was not in contact with the controller and was not required to be, but was visible on the controller's radar. At 11:00:16, the controller first advised the F-16 pilot of traffic: "traffic, 12 o’clock, 2 miles, opposite direction, one thousand two hundred indicated, type unknown." The F-16 pilot had no prior expectation of a potential traffic conflict. At 11:00:25, the controller instructed the F-16 pilot to turn left to 180 degrees if he did not see the traffic, but the pilot did not hear the advisory. The pilot looked but did not see the Cessna and asked the controller to confirm the distance. At 11:00:33, the controller told the pilot "if you don’t have that traffic in sight, turn left heading 180 immediately." The pilot acknowledged and had completed 30 degrees of a left turn before the collision occurred at 11:00:55.
Aftermath
Both aircraft were destroyed. The F-16 pilot ejected successfully and sustained minor injuries. The Cessna's occupants did not survive. Debris from the collision damaged two private travel trailers. Search and rescue efforts were conducted, and remains were recovered.