F-16 Intercepts Jet & Turboprop Legally Flying Through MOA

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When two GA pilots, one flying a Pilatus PC-12 and the other in a Beechcraft Premier jet, encountered an F-16 in a Military Operations Area used by Luke Air Force Base in Arizona last March, they had to take abrupt, evasive maneuvers to avoid the military jet. The incident, after it was first reported in AVwebFlash, set off a lively debate among pilots on AVweb's blog about the wisdom of flying in MOAs, and prompted an in-depth report in our sister publication, Aviation Safety. This week, AOPA obtained a video clip from the FAA showing the radar screen during the encounter, and also the voice tape from Air Traffic Control. The F-16 pilot has been reprimanded, and Luke officials told AOPA they will alter their training program to encourage their pilots to avoid similar encounters in the future. In a podcast interview with AVweb, PC-12 pilot Patrick McCall said his TCAS activated about 10 a.m. that day while he was cruising at 16,500 feet (VFR with flight following) and he had to dive his aircraft as the target kept closing on him. The target followed him in the dive and when McCall leveled at about 14,000 feet, he was amazed by the view from his side window. "I then looked to my left side of the aircraft and saw an F16 aircraft off of my left wing," he said in a written report sent to the FAA. "The F16 was no more than 20 feet off of my left wing."

Channel: Autos & Vehicles
Uploaded: July 9, 2008 at 1:41 am
Author: AVweb

Length: 00:03:17
Rating: 5.00
Views: 41248

Tags: airplane f-16 pilatus pc12 Beechcraft Premier Jet MOA military AOPA AVweb Luke AFB radar air force glenn pew

Video Comments:
YFIP (October 1, 2008 at 8:26 am)
Just because it is legal to fly VFR direct through a MOA, doesn't mean it is intelligent. There is a common misconception that just because we have radars, we have global SA and can see anything. Not true, if I'm heads out BFMing, I'm probably not sanitizing with my radar. We're out there protecting your right to be an asshole, don't exercise it by recklessly flying through MOA's ... it's stupid and a recipe for a mid-air. Spend the extra five minutes planning and fly over/under/around MOA's.
swidd2 (September 16, 2008 at 5:37 pm)
This guy is such a whuzzy. A plane gets within 1.5 miles and he starts peeing his panties, and crying to ATC for comfort. He probably went to Riddle....
atmosphotography (September 17, 2008 at 9:50 pm)
Judging from your Riddle bashing, you're probably from ASU with Riddle envy.
And he did say that the F-16 was within 10 feet of his aircraft. I'd say that warrants a formal complaint.
yankeebulldog16 (September 1, 2008 at 10:20 pm)
I fly in this moa (last flight on Aug 27 2008) as an instructor in F16s. If you fly in a MOA, you MAY have a close pass. We get point outs from our ATC sometimes. Oh, by the way, kind of hard to "Clear" below you while pulling 7+ Gs fighting another aircraft. I think its not so smart to have both the F16s and other aircraft trying to do see and avoid when in this situation. The smartest thing to do would; make it a restricted area, allow civilian traffic through when we are not training.
Craig975 (August 28, 2008 at 6:34 am)
Feel free to truck into an active MOA with the hunch that they are always level VFR, 100% see and aviod, and are talking to you on VHF. Did those guys conduct an intercept- who knows. Regardless, I'll yeild a few bucks in gas (you are going to loose anyways) going to vegas, claiming loss of rights, and sounding like a tool on the radio to everyone here. BTW on weekends these MOAs are cold;ATC routes IFR traffic through them routinely. A socialist government would make them restricted areas.
panictactics (August 26, 2008 at 8:21 am)
If this civilian pilot gets intercepted for real one day and instead of using his eyes and common sense he decides to respond to the inappropriate TCAS advice he may well get his arse shot down.
dan64456 (August 16, 2008 at 5:39 pm)
Agreed that he shouldn't have freaked out... I would have tipped my wing and waved to him... But my point is, VFR is allowed to be there and has every right to be. Therefore that freedom shall not be taken away. People don't realize that the more they agree with taking away a certain freedom, the more other freedoms will go behind it, and eventually something that THEY think shall remain free. It's a matter of principle, especially in our time where society is in a shift toward socialism.
contrail25 (August 22, 2008 at 6:16 am)
I whole heartedly agree that MOAs are joint use airspace, but I don't agree with the "my right to do so" overriding safety of flight mentality.

This isn't a case of "freedom" it's a case of poor airmanship on behalf of ALL the pilots involved and to some extent the controllers as well. Each party here could have done something better in this situation.
dan64456 (August 16, 2008 at 5:30 pm)
"AOPA has long been the champion of bush-league pilots; another example. Frankly that is why I cancelled my membership several years ago. Prudent professionals file, not fly VFR through a MOA. I have to side with the F-16's here."
The FAA says you can fly VFR thru MOA's, why would you want to make laws more restrictive? This kind of mentality will easily allow the government to slip us into fascism. Re-evaluate your thought process.
Craig975 (August 12, 2008 at 6:58 am)
flyninbry, thanks for making my point.