Report details final seconds before deadly F-16, Cessna crash

The pilot of an Air Force fighter jet was warned of "traffic" ahead moments before the spectacular midair crash of his F-16 and a single-engine Cessna over South Carolina this month, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report.

The pilot and passenger in the Cessna were killed in the July 7 crash. The damaged F-16 continued to fly for three minutes before the pilot, Air Force Maj. Aaron Johnson, ejected safely, the report said.

The F-16 was destroyed when it crashed to the ground about 25 miles north of Charleston.

The report said the F-16 was flying from Myrtle Beach International Airport to Charleston Air Force Base/International Airport. Several minutes before the crash, the pilot asked air traffic control to practice an instrument approach to the airport. Minutes later, what turned out to be the Cessna flashed on air traffic radar.

Seconds after 11 a.m., the controller advised the pilot of the F-16, "traffic 12 o'clock, 2 miles, opposite direction, 1,200 [feet altitude] indicated, type unknown."

The F-16 pilot said he was looking for the traffic. Eight seconds later, the controller advised the F-16 pilot, "turn left heading 180 if you don't have that traffic in sight."

The pilot responded by asking, "confirm 2 miles?"

Eight seconds later, the controller stated, "if you don't have that traffic in sight turn left heading 180 immediately."

The F-16 did begin to turn, the report said. Seconds later, the controller advised the F-16 pilot, "traffic passing below you 1,400 feet." Less than a minute later, the F-16 pilot transmitted a distress call "and no subsequent transmissions were received."

The NTSB said its investigation was continuing. The final report will focus on what caused the crash.

Johnson's F-16 "Fighting Falcon" was from the 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C. Col. Stephen Jost, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing, said Johnson had been participating in a standard instrument training. He called Johnson a "highly experienced" pilot.

The pilot of the Cessna, Joseph Johnson, 30, and his passenger father, Michael Johnson, 68, both of Moncks Corner, S.C., died of accidental, blunt force and body trauma, a coroner found.

Contributing: Tyler Pager