At approximately 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, an F-16 pilot on his way to a training mission at the Utah Test and Training Range experienced engine problems about 20 seconds after take off, causing him to drop two external fuel tanks and two unarmed Mk-82 bombs on a remote portion of Hill’s west side.
Base officials said that one of the bombs unexpectedly exploded upon impact, causing a power outage on base. Power was restored a few hours later. The second bomb buried itself nearby.
The pilot, whose name was not released, was able to land safely with no damage to the F-16. Col. Scott Zobrist, commander of the 388th Fighter Wing, said it’s standard procedure for a pilot to jettison munitions and fuel tanks after an engine failure. He added that when an engine fails, landing with excess weight is dangerous.
Base fuels technicians recovered the jettisoned external fuel tanks and ordnance disposal experts decided to explode the second bomb in place. The tanks released approximately 500 gallons of fuel. Some evaporated in the air, and the remainder impacted the remote area. Base officials have contracted for environmental remediation of the fuel by excavating the soil.
Prior to Saturday’s bomb disposal operation, Col. Patrick Higby, 75th Air Wing commander said, “We have determined destroying the Mk-82 bomb in place is the safest method to neutralize impact to our emergency response and recovery teams, as well as cause minimal environmental impact.”
The explosion took place Saturday when five M3 shape-charged explosives were detonated over the top of the buried Mk-82 bomb, destroying and remediating the bomb underground. Base officials said the fifth charge penetrated the earth, detonating the bomb, at 2:36 p.m.
During the disposal the base’s Roy gate near 5600 South was closed.
mwilliams@davisclipper.com
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