Test And Evaluation Instructor Had More Than 300 Combat Hours
To His Credit
Air Force officials have identified the pilot involved in an
aircraft mishap near Caliente, NV, June 28 as Capt. Eric Ziegler,
30, an operational test and evaluation instructor pilot with the
422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base.
File Photo
Brig. Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of the 57th Wing,
announced June 30 that search and rescue teams had found conclusive
evidence that Captain Ziegler did not survive when his F-16C
Fighting Falcon crashed during a combat training exercise. The
mishap occurred on Bureau of Land Management property approximately
20 miles west of Caliente while the aircraft was operating in
military airspace managed by Nevada Test and Training Range
personnel.
A native of West Fargo, N.D., Ziegler was a 1999 graduate of
West Fargo High School.
He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003 and earned
a master's degree in 2010. Ziegler was an experienced pilot with
more than 1,200 flight hours, primarily in the F-16. He had
operational assignments at Kunsan Air Base, Korea; Spangdahlem AB,
Germany; and Nellis AFB. During those assignments, he flew more
than 300 combat hours on three deployments. His decorations include
the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and an Aerial
Achievement Medal. Ziegler also had recently been selected to
attend the elite U.S. Air Force Weapons School.
"Words can't express how much we'll miss Eric," said Lt. Col.
Ryan Suttlemyre, the 422 TES commander. "He was a special friend, a
phenomenal husband and father, and a terrific aviator and officer.
Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time."
Ziegler's family has requested privacy, but said the following
in a prepared family statement:
"Eric was a man of character and
faith who deeply loved his family as well as flying. His sense of
humor, spontaneity, faith, zest for life, love of family and
country are the hallmarks of his personality. He was a true son of
the United States."
An investigation into the accident began almost immediately.
"For the next several weeks, a trained investigation board will
focus its exclusive efforts on collecting and protecting evidence
from the scene and gathering and analyzing all relevant data with
the specific purpose of determining the cause so we may prevent
future mishaps," O'Shaughnessy said. "The safety of the local
community and our Airmen is my top priority."