F-16 crashes at Holloman; pilot successfully ejects

An F-16C Viper from the 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico crashed while landing Monday evening, the base said in a release.

The fighter jet’s pilot ejected successfully and is being treated for minor injuries, Holloman said. The crash occurred at about 6 p.m. local time.

Holloman said emergency response teams were at the site of the crash.

Pilot killed in Shaw F-16 crash ‘loved his family, his country and loved to fly'

Air Force 1st Lt. David Schmitz died in the crash of an F-16CM Fighting Falcon at Shaw Air Force Base late Tuesday night.

Howard Altman

July 2, 2020

An investigation into the cause of the accident is under way, the base said.

This is the second F-16C crash in less than two weeks. 1st Lt. David Schmitz of the 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina died July 1 when his Fighting Falcon crashed while on a routine training mission.

Another F-16 from Holloman’s 49th Wing also crashed last October during a training flight. That jet’s pilot ejected as well, and was treated at a hospital afterward.