Accident Summary
On 31 January 2024, at approximately 08:41 a.m. Korea Standard Time, an F-16C Fighting Falcon, Tail Number 89-2013, crashed into the Yellow Sea approximately 61 nautical miles northwest of Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The aircraft was assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base. The mishap pilot ejected from the aircraft prior to impact. The aircraft was destroyed, resulting in the loss of a $25,764,648.00 United States government asset.
Sequence of Events
The mishap flight was planned as a routine training sortie as part of the wing's local readiness exercise BEVERLY MORNING. The pilot was flying as the fourth aircraft in a 4-ship formation. During the air refueling portion of the mission, the pilot accomplished three successful contacts with a KC-46 tanker, receiving approximately 1,700 pounds of fuel. On the third contact attempt, the pilot heard a loud bang inside the aircraft. After separating from the tanker, the pilot observed low engine revolutions per minute (RPM) and high fan turbine inlet temperature (FTIT), causing the aircraft to lose airspeed and altitude. The pilot descended to maintain 250 knots and attempted multiple engine restarts without success. Determining the aircraft could not reach a nearby runway, the pilot continued descending to 1,500 feet above ground level to gain airspeed for a final climb. At approximately 2,000 feet, the pilot successfully ejected approximately 30 nautical miles west of Seosan Airfield, Republic of Korea. The aircraft impacted the Yellow Sea and was not recovered.
Investigation Findings
An Accident Investigation Board (AIB) was convened under AFI 51-307. The AIB President found by a preponderance of evidence that the cause of the mishap was an engine stall due to hardware failure. The initial engine stall was unrecoverable by the pilot after several restart attempts from 24,000 feet to approximately 8,000 feet mean sea level. The aircraft displayed unreliable and inaccurate data with multiple failure indications.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The F-16C (Block 40) tail number 89-2013 was assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron. The mishap pilot was participating in a routine training sortie. Weather at the time was clear with no clouds in the refueling airspace. Toxicology tests were conducted as part of the investigation; no further details on pilot condition were provided.
Cause
The AIB determined the probable cause of the accident was an engine stall due to hardware failure.