F-15 Engine Fire Leads to High-Speed Landing, Runway Overshoot, and Ejection

On November 9, 1995, the pilot of an F-15A (SN 76-0061/SL), call sign experienced an engine fire in the right engine. Despite shutting it down, the fire continued, as observed by his wingman, Declaring an emergency, he headed to nearby Whiteman AFB in Missouri. The HUD display footage shows the airspeed and altitude tapes and hear his communication with his wingman and ATC.

The Engine Fire and Runway Overrun

He touched down at a very high speed (260 knots) but was unable to stop within the available runway, forcing him to eject just as the plane exited the departure end. His professionalism in handling the emergency is evident, particularly in his controlled breathing. The camera and aural alerts continued throughout the rollout, even notifying him of fuel after all movement ceased.

Some portions of the video are out of focus, as video cameras had just emerged in 1985, and Air Force firemen were unfamiliar with their operation. If this bothers you,

The emergency involved a military fighter carrying a substantial amount of speed into a runway environment that could not absorb the landing. The right-engine fire continued after shutdown, leaving the pilot with an urgent need to reach an available runway while also dealing with the consequences of the engine problem.

The surviving account identifies the aircraft as F-15A serial 76-0061 and the call sign as Misty One. It also identifies the wingman as Misty Two, who observed that the fire continued. These details come from contemporary reporting of the event and are kept separate from any broader interpretation of pilot performance.

The aircraft touched down at about 260 knots, ran beyond the runway end and the pilot ejected. The reports reviewed do not identify a final accident-investigation cause for the engine fire.

The available contemporary account is unusually specific about the emergency aircraft. It identifies an F-15A, serial number 76-0061, call sign Misty One, and a wingman called Misty Two. The right-engine fire continued even after the affected engine was shut down.

The pilot declared an emergency and diverted to Whiteman AFB. The recorded HUD material shows the aircraft approaching at very high speed, and contemporary reporting states that the aircraft touched down at about 260 knots.

Because the aircraft could not stop on the available runway, the pilot ejected as it left the departure end. No final investigation finding provides a final investigation finding establishing why the fire began, so this sequence does not invent one.

Accident Facts

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