HUD Footage: F-16 Hydraulic Failure & Ejection

On May 16, 2019, at 1539 local time, a block 40 F-16C, tail number 88-0477, assigned to the 114th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, Joe Foss Field, South Dakota, with duties at the 144 Fighter Wing, Detachment 1, March Air Reserve Base, California, crashed on approach to March Air Reserve Base. There were no fatalities, but the mishap aircraft impacted a commercial warehouse, resulting in minor injuries to warehouse employees. The mishap pilot, assigned to the 144 Fighter Wing, Detachment 1, ejected before impact and sustained minor injuries. The mishap aircraft, valued at $24,991,645, was destroyed, and the environmental clean-up cost was $3,937,652. The purpose of the mishap flight was to practice an Aerospace Control Alert scramble of two F-16 fighters and to conduct aircraft intercept training. The mishap flight consisted of a two-aircraft formation with the training activities occurring in a Military Operating Area approximately 120 miles east of March Air Reserve Base. The mishap pilot flew the number two aircraft in the formation (the "wingman") during take-off, transition to the Military Operating Area, return to base and landing. During the approach into March Air Reserve Base, the mishap aircraft experienced low pressure in system A of its dual hydraulic system, followed by low pressure in system B. The loss of hydraulic pressure in both the A and B systems significantly degraded the effectiveness of the mishap aircraft's hydraulically actuated fight controls. Unable to maintain control of the mishap aircraft, the mishap pilot ejected near the threshold of March Air Reserve Base's runway 14. The Accident Investigation Board president found, by a preponderance of the evidence, the cause of the mishap was the improper installation of two hydraulic check valves in the right Flaperon Integrated Servo Actuator (ISA), which resulted in a loss of sufficient hydraulic pressure to control the mishap aircraft. A preponderance of the evidence also indicated an inadequate ISA overhaul process that lacked an effective procedure to identify improper installation of ISA check valves was a substantially contributing factor. This is never-before-seen heads-up display footage of the mishap flight. /r/realworldpolice ‪@RealWorldPolice‬ 00:00 Highlights, Ejection Video 01:08 Photos 01:31 Full HUD video 18:04 Gauges