On September 14 2003, the USAF's aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, lost a General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon during a demonstration at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho.
Captain Chris Stricklin was attempting to perform a split-S when he basically ran out of altitude. He ejected and survived without serious injury. The F-16C was destroyed, and its loss was attributed to pilot error. Subsquently, Captain Stricklin has been reassigned to Washington, D.C., working the halls of the Pentagon.
The good men of Boots and Sabers have posted in-cockpit video; find it in their initial here. Additional information can be found here in the F-16.net story on the final report.
Posted by Country Pundit at January 30, 2004 02:55 PM