Air Force Determines Bird Strike Caused July F-16 Crash

By Adam J. Hebert / January 18, 2000 at 5:00 AM
Air Force accident investigators have determined that the July 1, 1999, crash of an F-16C out of Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL, was most likely caused by a bird striking the Falcon's canopy. The pilot, Maj. Samuel D'Angelo, was incapacitated by the collision and died when his fighter crashed about 40 seconds after the initial impact. According to the accident investigation board report, released today by Air Combat Command, "substantial evidence" exists that a bird "impacted the right forward portion...

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