U.S. Air Force F-16 and Cessna C-150 small plane collide in midair in South Carolina

JULY 7, 2015

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)

Fire Dept.: F-16, Cessna planes crash near SC highway

Posted: July 07, 2015 

By Suzelle Santos Photo Source: Amy Ramsey Dye/Facebook

 

Photo Source: Live 5

 

Photo Source: Live 5

 

 

BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - 

 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. 
They say the planes collided mid-air. 

Berkeley County Fire confirms the fuselage of the Cessna has been located and a rescue swimmer has been sent in to search for the pilot. They say the Coast Guard is overhead.

Officials also say the pilot ejected from the F-16 and DNR is on the scene searching for the pilot.

There are reports toxic flames are coming from the plane. A witness tells us the crash was in a rice field about 100 feet from land, very close to the historic Lewisfield plantation home. 

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.  

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

//--------------////

 

 Federal officials say an F-16 fighter jet and a small plane have collided in midair in South Carolina.  A huge explosion resulted from the collision.  The F-16 pilot safely ejected.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Tuesday that the fighter jet collided with a Cessna C150 around 11 a.m. The collision happened about 11 miles north of Charleston.

No other details were immediately available.

North Charleston Fire Department spokeswoman Bianca Bourbeau says the agency has sent a chief and a marine unit to assist Berkeley County with a reported plane crash, and will send other help as needed.

//-------///

Date:	07-JUL-2015
Time:
Type:	General Dynamics F-16
Owner/operator:	USAF
Registration:
C/n / msn:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Airplane damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Lewis Field Plantation in Moncks Corner, SC -   United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:
Destination airport:

Narrative:
According to first reports, an F-16 fighter plane collided with a light plane mid-air. There apparently was a huge explosion. The F-16 pilot apparently safely bailed out of the plane.
Sources: 
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=177631 
http://www.cbs46.com/story/29491579/berkeley-co-fire-f-16-cessna-planes-crash-near-old-hwy-52?autostart=true
http://www.fox10tv.com/story/29491579/fire-dept-f-16-cessna-planes-crash-near-sc-highway#ixzz3fDze7h3v