
Pilot error, ejection seat malfunction implicated in June F-16 crash
Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Pilot error and a series of ejection seat malfunctions led to the death of an F-16CM pilot at Shaw Air Force Base In June, according to an accident report released this week by Air Combat Command. According to the report, 1st Lt. David Schmitz's ejection seat malfunctioned and his parachute never deployed, causing his death after his aircraft struck a localizer antenna array while landing the plane. Advertisement Schmitz, 32, died instantly on impacting the ground, the report said. He was conducting a nighttime mission qualification training flight that would include his first ever attempts at air-to-air refueling -- but the air-to-air refueling attempt failed, cutting the mission short. As Schmitz returned to Shaw AFB, the collision with the antenna array damaged the le...