1983 Israeli Air Force F-15 crash
Encyclopedia
The 1983 Negev mid-air collision was an accident in which the right wing of an F-15D was sheared off in a mid-air collision. Pilot Ziv Nedivi, incredibly, managed to land the F-15 safely due to the F-15 Eagle's unique aerodynamic characteristics.
dissimilar air combat training
session in the Negev
, an F-15D collided with an A-4 Skyhawk
. While the pilot of the Skyhawk ejected and his aircraft disintegrated, the right wing of the Eagle was sheared off roughly two feet (60 cm) from the fuselage. This was unknown to the crew of the aircraft, pilot Ziv Nedivi and navigator Yehoar Gal, as leaking fuel and vapors along the wing had prevented both from seeing what had happened to the wing.
The F-15 entered an uncontrollable spin after the collision. Nedivi decided to attempt recovery and engaged afterburner to increase speed, allowing him to regain control of the aircraft. He was able to prevent stalling and maintain control because of the lift generated by the large horizontal surface area of the fuselage, the stabilators and remaining wing areas. Diverted to the air base at Ramon
, the F-15 landed at twice the normal speed to maintain the necessary lift, and its tailhook was torn off completely during the landing. Ziv managed to bring his F-15 to a complete stop approximately 20 ft (6 m) from the end of the runway. He was later quoted as saying "(I) probably would have ejected if I knew what had happened." However, he also (incorrectly) stated that above a certain speed, the F-15 acted "like a rocket" and didn't need wings.
The aircraft, 106 Squadron's 957 Markia Schakim , was transported by road to an IAF maintenance unit at Tel Nof
, where it was repaired. Having already claimed four enemy aircraft during the 1982 Lebanon War
, the repaired aircraft was to claim a shared kill of another Syrian MiG-23 on November 19, 1985.
Accident
On 1 May 1983, during an Israeli Air ForceIsraeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
dissimilar air combat training
Dissimilar air combat training
Dissimilar air combat training was introduced as a formal part of US air combat training after disappointing aerial combat exchange rates in the Vietnam War.Traditionally, pilots would undertake air combat training against similar aircraft...
session in the Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
, an F-15D collided with an A-4 Skyhawk
A-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
. While the pilot of the Skyhawk ejected and his aircraft disintegrated, the right wing of the Eagle was sheared off roughly two feet (60 cm) from the fuselage. This was unknown to the crew of the aircraft, pilot Ziv Nedivi and navigator Yehoar Gal, as leaking fuel and vapors along the wing had prevented both from seeing what had happened to the wing.
The F-15 entered an uncontrollable spin after the collision. Nedivi decided to attempt recovery and engaged afterburner to increase speed, allowing him to regain control of the aircraft. He was able to prevent stalling and maintain control because of the lift generated by the large horizontal surface area of the fuselage, the stabilators and remaining wing areas. Diverted to the air base at Ramon
Ramon Airbase
Ramon Airbase is an Israeli Air Force base southwest of Beersheba, near the town of Mitzpe Ramon. Also titled Kanaf 25 , it was formerly known as Matred. It was built as the result of joint Israeli and US government funding as part of the IAF's redeployment out of its bases in the Sinai after the...
, the F-15 landed at twice the normal speed to maintain the necessary lift, and its tailhook was torn off completely during the landing. Ziv managed to bring his F-15 to a complete stop approximately 20 ft (6 m) from the end of the runway. He was later quoted as saying "(I) probably would have ejected if I knew what had happened." However, he also (incorrectly) stated that above a certain speed, the F-15 acted "like a rocket" and didn't need wings.
The aircraft, 106 Squadron's 957 Markia Schakim , was transported by road to an IAF maintenance unit at Tel Nof
Tel Nof Airbase
Tel Nof Israeli Air Force , also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. Tel Nof is located near Rehovot, Israel.-History:...
, where it was repaired. Having already claimed four enemy aircraft during the 1982 Lebanon War
1982 Lebanon War
The 1982 Lebanon War , , called Operation Peace for Galilee by Israel, and later known in Israel as the Lebanon War and First Lebanon War, began on 6 June 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon...
, the repaired aircraft was to claim a shared kill of another Syrian MiG-23 on November 19, 1985.