F-16 crashes on takeoff at Ellington Field in Texas

[DaveBB]

I'm in the industrialized portion of east Texas taking some software training, and learned that an F-16 crashed on takeoff at Ellington Field.  But the plane actually looks to be intact. The pilot ejected.  The wheels are up.  Word is that it caught on fire on takeoff.  Pictures show it in the grass.  The real story will come out soon.

[Vraciu]

"Tribe" - Oklahoma ANG, Tulsa.

[puller]

Tulsa news said the ANG at TIA was supposed to get 6 or 8 F35s...Can't remember when they said they would receive them...

[Busher]

A good landing, you walk away..........

A great landing lets you use the airplane again..

[Zimme83]

Technically he did not walk away, he used the *ss cannon.. 

[colmbo]

WTH am I seeing under the right wing that looks like an engine intake?

[Devil 505]

WTH am I seeing under the right wing that looks like an engine intake?

Probably the gear door and some extra peeled up sheet metal.

[Serenity]

Technically he did not walk away, he used the *ass cannon.. 

I lovingly call it the "f*** this" handle

WTH am I seeing under the right wing that looks like an engine intake?

WTH am I seeing under the right wing that looks like an engine intake?

Yep. Gear was likely either down or in transit on impact.

[Vraciu]

WTH am I seeing under the right wing that looks like an engine intake?

Drop tank. Mangled.  Looks attached to the pylon. 

(Edit in after a look at a higher res picture...)  Or possibly a main gear door.  Best guess.

[Mongoose]

That was my guess.  It looks like something round that is attached to the pylon, and got flattened against the ground.

[Puma44]

Looks like a drop tank with the nose cone broken off.

[DaveBB]

Yes, that's a drop tank with the nose cone tore off.  There was a huge plume of black smoke.  Whether the drop tank spilled its contents before or after the crash is up for contention.

[Shuffler]

They fly over all the time when called to check aircraft or on practice out over the gulf. This is just down the road.
TheGuppy is kept there and at least one U2 is there.

[Maverick]

I'm just glad no one was killed and no major property damage. Could have been far far worse.