Wrong settings caused F-16 tragedy, experts conclude
A wrong trim setting caused a two-seat Greek Air Force F-16 to crash in Albacete, Spain, earlier this year, according to a report by international investigators that was released this week.
The report found that an object left in the cockpit – possibly a checklist – likely shifted before takeoff causing an “accidential modification” of the setting of the craft’s rudder controls that stabilize vertical motion.
Investigators said that “the yaw trim was inadvertently set to maximum right yaw trimming [12 degrees right], drastically affecting the aerodynamics of the aircraft during take-off.”
The Greek pilot’s efforts to recover controlled flight were not enough to prevent the aircraft from crashing “approximately 7.8 seconds after takeoff,” the report said.
Both pilots and nine French servicemen on the ground died, and another 21 people were injured, as the fighter jet crashed into French and Italian planes and service personnel that were in the apron area.
NATO has described the event of January 26 as the worst crash during an alliance exercise in recent memory.
