By Suzelle Santos
By Live 5 News Web Staff
Mid-air collision
The
Berkeley County Fire Department says two planes, an F-16 and a Cessna
aircraft, have crash-landed near Old Highway 52 at Lewisfield
Plantation.
Photo Source: Facebook
: F-16, Cessna mid-air collision
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Maj. Aaron Johnson (Photo Source: LinkedIn)
Photo Source: Viewer Submitted/Facebook
Photo Source: Live 5
Photo Source: Live 5
A portion of the F-16 is hauled from the crash site in Berkeley County. (Photo Source: Live 5)
BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) -
Berkeley County officials say they are now in a
recovery mission to locate the two victims killed in a midair collision
between an F-16 and a Cessna C-150 over Berkeley County Tuesday morning.
Berkeley County Rescue Squad Chief Bill Salisbury said the main goal now is to recover the remains of the two people believed to have been aboard the Cessna and bring them home to their families.
"We have no reason to believe anyone survived the crash," Salisbury said at a Tuesday afternoon press briefing.
The Air Force identified Maj. Aaron Johnson, who is stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, as the pilot of the F-16. Johnson safely ejected from the jet and was rescued following the crash 11 miles north of Charleston and was rescued, according to Berkeley County Rescue Squad officials.
Col. Stephen Jost, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, said Johnson is a "highly-experienced pilot" who was on a single-ship mission involving instrument training.
"Our pilots are well trained to fly the approaches in and out of there and all the facts at this point indicate he was taking to air traffic control when the accident happened," Jost said.
Johnson was taken to Joint Base Charleston for health evaluations, Jost said, and Johnson is expected to be back at Shaw by Tuesday evening.
"Our hearts are with the family of the crew of the civilian plane," Jost said, adding that Shaw would do everything possible to determine what caused the crash and support the safety investigation.
The crash happened near Old Highway 52 in Moncks Corner at approximately 11:02 a.m. and that witnesses reported the F-16 hit the Cessna "broadside," Salisbury said. Salisbury said the Cessna had taken off from the Berkeley County Airport just minutes before the crash was reported and that the plane was believed to be headed to Myrtle Beach.
Salisbury said the fuselage of the Cessna has been located and debris area is 7.3 miles wide and scattered across a rice field. The recovery operation involves boats, divers and sonar, Salisbury said.
Salisbury did not identify the people believed to be aboard the Cessna, but said that while the press briefing was underway, he received word that a wallet had been recovered in the search area.
Salisbury said crews will work as long into the night as is safe and then will resume the search Wednesday morning if necessary.
Law enforcement officers blocked off roads near O.T. Wallace Boulevard and say additional road closures may occur as additional debris is located.
Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis asked for patience for those who might encounter road closures. Lewis said area residents are being allowed in, but everyone else should avoid the area for now.
Anyone who finds debris from the crash should call 911 immediately so the debris can be collected.
Shaw Air Force Base confirmed the F-16 Fighting Falcon was stationed there and that the pilot is accounted for. In a statement, Shaw officials say a team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board will work to determine the cause of the accident.
There were reports toxic flames are coming from the F-16. A witness said the crash was in a rice field about 100 feet from land, very close to the historic Lewisfield plantation home.
Both Medway and Lewisfield Plantations are off Highway 52.
The F-16 was designed in 1970 for the United States Air Force as an alternative to fighter aircraft that had grown increasingly heavy and unmaneuverable. A team working at General Dynamics in Fort Worth, TX set out to develop a simple, inexpensive fighter that could fly and turn so fast that adversaries would be unable to strike it with either missiles or gunfire.
Throughout the years, weapons and targeting systems were added to the aircraft without diminishing the F-16’s agility, making it a true multirole aircraft.
Since 1975, more than 4,500 F-16s have been produced for 26 nations across the world.
Berkeley County Rescue Squad Chief Bill Salisbury said the main goal now is to recover the remains of the two people believed to have been aboard the Cessna and bring them home to their families.
"We have no reason to believe anyone survived the crash," Salisbury said at a Tuesday afternoon press briefing.
The Air Force identified Maj. Aaron Johnson, who is stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, as the pilot of the F-16. Johnson safely ejected from the jet and was rescued following the crash 11 miles north of Charleston and was rescued, according to Berkeley County Rescue Squad officials.
Col. Stephen Jost, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, said Johnson is a "highly-experienced pilot" who was on a single-ship mission involving instrument training.
"Our pilots are well trained to fly the approaches in and out of there and all the facts at this point indicate he was taking to air traffic control when the accident happened," Jost said.
Johnson was taken to Joint Base Charleston for health evaluations, Jost said, and Johnson is expected to be back at Shaw by Tuesday evening.
"Our hearts are with the family of the crew of the civilian plane," Jost said, adding that Shaw would do everything possible to determine what caused the crash and support the safety investigation.
The crash happened near Old Highway 52 in Moncks Corner at approximately 11:02 a.m. and that witnesses reported the F-16 hit the Cessna "broadside," Salisbury said. Salisbury said the Cessna had taken off from the Berkeley County Airport just minutes before the crash was reported and that the plane was believed to be headed to Myrtle Beach.
Salisbury said the fuselage of the Cessna has been located and debris area is 7.3 miles wide and scattered across a rice field. The recovery operation involves boats, divers and sonar, Salisbury said.
Salisbury did not identify the people believed to be aboard the Cessna, but said that while the press briefing was underway, he received word that a wallet had been recovered in the search area.
Salisbury said crews will work as long into the night as is safe and then will resume the search Wednesday morning if necessary.
Law enforcement officers blocked off roads near O.T. Wallace Boulevard and say additional road closures may occur as additional debris is located.
Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis asked for patience for those who might encounter road closures. Lewis said area residents are being allowed in, but everyone else should avoid the area for now.
Anyone who finds debris from the crash should call 911 immediately so the debris can be collected.
Shaw Air Force Base confirmed the F-16 Fighting Falcon was stationed there and that the pilot is accounted for. In a statement, Shaw officials say a team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board will work to determine the cause of the accident.
There were reports toxic flames are coming from the F-16. A witness said the crash was in a rice field about 100 feet from land, very close to the historic Lewisfield plantation home.
Both Medway and Lewisfield Plantations are off Highway 52.
The F-16 was designed in 1970 for the United States Air Force as an alternative to fighter aircraft that had grown increasingly heavy and unmaneuverable. A team working at General Dynamics in Fort Worth, TX set out to develop a simple, inexpensive fighter that could fly and turn so fast that adversaries would be unable to strike it with either missiles or gunfire.
Throughout the years, weapons and targeting systems were added to the aircraft without diminishing the F-16’s agility, making it a true multirole aircraft.
Since 1975, more than 4,500 F-16s have been produced for 26 nations across the world.