Aviano-based F-16 lost over the Adriatic Sea

james84 · Post by **james84** » 28 Jan 2013, 20:46

Posted a few minutes ago on the news.
An AV-based F-16 has lost contact offshore Cervia (LIPC) and probably plunged into the Adriatic Sea. It seems the aircraft was in a formation and reported a problem, said Italian press agency ANSA. The last contact was at 8pm. SAR activities are in progress in a range of 10 miles from Cesenatico, close to Cervia.

Victory103 · Post by **Victory103** » 29 Jan 2013, 02:07

Hope 2013 doesn't start out like 12 did. Hope he got out.

andrea81 · Post by **andrea81** » 29 Jan 2013, 06:27

I live near Cervia air base and a friend of mine is a pilot of 15*stormo ( SAR wing ) based at Cervia! They haven't found the USAF pilot yet!! Just some fuel spots on the sea

james84 · Post by **james84** » 29 Jan 2013, 16:30

Just read on the news that the pilot flying the other aircraft could not see his fellow pilot going down. Also, USAF are fearing that the pilot experienced so serious and sudden a problem that he might not even have time to react and eject. Fingers crossed.

maverick69 · Post by **maverick69** » 29 Jan 2013, 16:37

Italian search teams have recovered debris...
http://www.aviano.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123334173

james84 · Post by **james84** » 30 Jan 2013, 07:30

The missing pilot is Capt. Lucas Gruenther from California.

http://www.kcra.com/news/Twain-Harte-pi ... olute=true

james84 · Post by **james84** » 30 Jan 2013, 20:18

AV F-16 are taking part in the search using their targeting pods to scan the area. It looks like they found the chutem but no trace of the pilot
http://theaviationist.com/2013/01/30/av ... urce=pubv1

james84 · Post by **james84** » 31 Jan 2013, 11:38

The helmet has been found 15 miles offshore Cervia (article in Italian)
http://lastampa.it/2013/01/31/italia/cr ... agina.html

james84 · Post by **james84** » 31 Jan 2013, 15:37

Unfortunately the pilot didn't survive. His body has been recovered by the Italian navy 14 miles offshore Pesaro, some 60kms southeast of Cervia.
http://www.aviano.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123334566
RIP

mikewmac · Post by **mikewmac** » 31 Jan 2013, 15:57

RIP

andrea81 · Post by **andrea81** » 31 Jan 2013, 17:34

RIP captain

Victory103 · Post by **Victory103** » 31 Jan 2013, 18:11

You always hope for the best on these, hoping some Italian fishing vessel picked him up and didn't have a radio kind of story. RIP

reconmercs · Post by **reconmercs** » 01 Feb 2013, 12:15

Really sad to hear

prayers to his family

james84 · Post by **james84** » 28 Apr 2013, 12:38

The daughter of Capt. Gruenther with her father's flight gear
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

Victory103 · Post by **Victory103** » 29 Apr 2013, 01:56

Finally FB proving useful, very moving.

Aviano-based F-16 lost over the Adriatic Sea

Aviano-based F-16 lost over the Adriatic Sea

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