A Wisconsin Air National Guard pilot’s fatal crash last year in Michigan was due to numerous factors, including faulty GPS, according to an Air Force report released Wednesday.
MADISON - The Wisconsin Air National Guard pilot who fatally crashed in Michigan s Upper Peninsula in December became disoriented, a report from the U.S. Air Force Aircraft Accident Investigation Board found.
Capt. Durwood Hawk Jones, 37, died after crashing his F-16 Fighting Falcon in a wooded area of the Hiawatha National Forest on Dec. 8, 2020. The pilot was operating out of the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field in Madison and was conducting a training exercise.
The report found that the cause of the crash was the pilot s failure to effectively recover from spatial disorientation.
Investigators found the pilot s use of night vision goggles restricted his field of view and he was likely unable to identify a true horizon. The night conditions, lack of light and entering a cloud layer also reduced visual cues.
Missing man flyover planned to honor F-16 pilot who died in Upper Peninsula crash
Updated 2:22 PM;
Today 2:15 PM
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing, Madison, Wis., performs maneuvers at Hardwood Range in Necedah, Wis., during the annual Northern Lightning exercise August 13, 2020. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Mary Greenwood)115th Fighter Wing/Public Affair
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MADISON, WI – A flyover will take place this weekend in honor of an F-16 pilot who died when he crashed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
The flyover salute will take place in the skies over Truax Field Air National Guard Base outside Madison at Dane County Regional Airport at 11:30 a.m. on April 17 during a memorial service.
Weekend flyover planned to honor fallen F-16 pilot
April 16, 2021 11:33 AM Jaymes Langrehr
Updated:
MADISON, Wis. The Wisconsin National Guard is planning a flyover this weekend as part of a memorial service for an F-16 pilot who died in a plane crash in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan late last year.
This weekend’s flyover salute will happen over Truax Field at 11:30 a.m. Saturday during a memorial service, with F-16s from the 115th Fighter Wing’s 176th Fighter Squadron and F-15s from the Oregon Air National Guard’s 123rd Fighter Squadron. The Wisconsin National Guard says the 123rd Fighter Squadron is taking part in solidarity, as Jones’ brother is an F-15 pilot in the unit.