Mon, Dec 20, 2004
Trigger On Laser Sight May Have Contributed To Mishap
The Air National Guard says an F-16 pilot on a night training
mission ignored a warning that might have kept him from
accidentally strafing a school in New Jersey.
The report says Maj. Roberto Balzano, an experienced F-16
driver, was warned not to use the trigger-mounted laser activation
switch when his cannon was unsafed.
But that's apparently just what Balzano did -- activated the
laser to illuminate his target through night-vision goggles -- as
he rolled in on his final turn to the strafing run. As a result,
Balzano blasted the Egg Harbor Intermediate School on November 3rd,
according to the ANG report.
While the ANG report cited pilot error as the leading cause in
the accident, it also noted that the accident was at least partly
caused by poor design. At least three other times this year, F-16
pilots have suffered the exact same problem while practicing night
strafing runs, according to the New York Times. There were no other
reports of damage as a result.
As soon as his cannon accidentally fired, Balzano radioed his
wingman, Major Kirk Pierce -- who just happened to be Balzano's
instructor.
Major Pierce: "Were you trying to mark or
something?"
Major Balzano: "Yes."
Major Pierce: "That's what we talked about.
Don't do that."
Major Balzano: "Yeah."
Major Pierce: "That's why I covered that in the
brief."
The result: Twenty-seven 20mm cannon rounds impacted the school.
Since it happened after 2300, there was no one in the school at the
time. No one was hurt.
What will happen to Major Balzano? At this point, there's no
word.
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