October 31, 2013 - On Wednesday the Air Force
released its findings on the crash of an F-16
that crashed near Cervia, Italy on January 28,
2013 that killed 32 year old Major Lucas "Gaza"
Gruenther after he ejected from the aircraft.
On 28 January 28 at or about 7 PM, Major
Gruenther a pilot with 510th Fighter Squadron,
31st Fighter Wing departed Aviano Air Base,
Italy in his F-16 (tail umber 88-0510) with two
other F-16’s as part of a formation for a night
training mission.
The pilots were simulated two bomb attacks while
using night vision goggles (NVGs). The first
attack, which did not include any simulated
defensive threat reactions, was executed without
any problems. On the second bomb attack Major
Gruenther executed a threat reaction which
culminated in a “last ditch” defensive maneuver.
While performing defensive maneuvers Major
Gruenther entering a 45 degree nose low, 90
degree left wing down, attitude, within moments
of theses maneuvers the Major reported he was
felling spatially disoriented, a condition in
which a pilot has the inability to correctly
interpret aircraft’s attitude, altitude or
airspeed, in relation to the Earth or a point of
reference.
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