MADISON, Wisc. - The pilot of a single-seat F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the Madison-based 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard was evaluated and released with minor injuries after safely ejecting from his aircraft Tuesday.
The F-16, which crashed into an unoccupied vacation home on Ember Avenue in the town of New Chester in Adams County at about 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, was one of two fighter jets to take off from Truax Field in Madison, Wis., for a routine training mission in the vicinity of Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, a Wisconsin Air National Guard base near Camp Douglas, Wisc.
The aircraft, which were scheduled to return to Madison following the air maneuver training, were not carrying live ammunition.
The pilot, an experienced F-16 pilot with multiple combat tours in support of the global war on terror, was coherent and talking after the accident.
No other injuries resulted from the accident.
Emergency responders from Volk Field and the New Chester Fire Department responded to the scene, along with the Truax Field Fire Department, the 115th Fighter Wing Security Forces team and other 115th emergency response elements. Members of the Wisconsin National Guard's Joint Operations Center also arrived at the site to serve as liaison between the incident commander and the Joint Operations Center.
Area residents were evacuated following the accident as a precautionary measure to prevent health and safety concerns from burning materials, but were allowed to return to their homes Tuesday night. Wisconsin National Guard officials met with the affected residents Tuesday night.
The area between Second Drive and Second Avenue between Elk Avenue and Ember Avenue in the town of New Chester remains closed to the general public through Thursday for safety reasons and also to preserve evidence for the official investigation. According to the Adams County Emergency Management department, residents in the affected area may only access their residences with special wristbands and photo identification.
An Air Force investigation team has been appointed. The investigation could take up to 90 days to determine the cause of the accident.
The 115th Fighter Wing has flown F-16's since 1993 and has an exceptional safety record.
Tuesday's crash is the first such accident for the 115th Fighter Wing since 1995. According to the official investigation, the 1995 accident was due to a manufacturer's defect.