Spatial disorientation behind F-16 crash by civilian employee; investigation found he wasn’t properly qualified

The U.S. Air Force concluded that a civilian employee working under the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron had spatial disorientation and crashed his F-16 into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 6, 2014. The pilot was killed in the crash.

By (United States Air Force) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The investigation also revealed that he was not properly recertified to fly the F-16 after a 20-year hiatus. He had only 102 hours of flight time on the F-16, 82 of those were back before 1994. He should have undergone F-16 centrifuge retraining but the unit gave him credit due to his experience on the F-4.

Source: Spatial disorientation behind F-16 crash by civilian employee; investigation found he wasn’t properly qualified