http://www.metacafe.com/watch/276051..._cockpit_view/

Err...hopefully not. When did it happened?

I really have no clue

He ejected just in the nick of time.

Happened over three years ago -- we first caught this at my car forums when it was first released back in early 2004. According to a quote from there (links are all dead, so I'm just copying and pasting):

Thunderbirds accident report released
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

01/21/2004 – LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) – Pilot error caused a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 aircraft to crash shortly after takeoff at an airshow Sept. 14 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The pilot ejected just before the aircraft impacted the ground.

According to the accident investigation board report released today, the pilot misinterpreted the altitude required to complete the “Split S” maneuver. He made his calculation based on an incorrect mean-sea-level altitude of the airfield. The pilot incorrectly climbed to 1,670 feet above ground level instead of 2,500 feet before initiating the pull down to the Split S maneuver.

When he realized something was wrong, the pilot put maximum back stick pressure and rolled slightly left to ensure the aircraft would impact away from the crowd should he have to eject. He ejected when the aircraft was 140 feet above ground – just eight-tenths of a second prior to impact. He sustained only minor injuries from the ejection. There was no other damage to military or civilian property.

The aircraft, valued at about $20.4 million, was destroyed.

Also, the board determined other factors substantially contributed to creating the opportunity for the error including the requirement for demonstration pilots to convert mean sea level and above ground level altitudes and performing a maneuver with a limited margin of error.

Here's a still shot.

that's wild

*gasp* Mighty!! I was there for that!! It was pretty freaky to watch. Loud boom, hot flames, lots of panicked screaming spectators...Yeah that was a fun afternoon. Not! Just glad the poor guy was okay.

Takes a lot of poise to hang with the plane that long, but the things that jumped out of the article at me were "pilot error" and "$20.4 million." Did he still fly with the team after this incident?

Originally Posted by moving0target

Did he still fly with the team after this incident?

Nope, not according to this article. Quoting in part:

...because of the error he was reassigned last month to the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., without completing his two-year stint with the Thunderbirds.

Also, I found another site that has a slow-mo in-cockpit video of the ejection sequence:
- http://www.michaelworth.com/thunderb...4_sep_03.shtml

ahh yes.. glory days are over. Well for now