LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Air Force investigators have released the cause of the crash of a U.S. Air Force Reserve F-16C on the Utah Test and Training Range on Nov. 13, 2002.

The pilot died as a result of the crash. The aircraft, which was assigned to the 466th Fighter Squadron, based at Hill AFB, UT, was destroyed upon impact. The cost of the accident is estimated at $25.4 million.

According to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released today, investigators determined the primary cause of the collision was the pilot's loss of situational awareness, resulting from channelized attention and an optical illusion caused by unusual environmental conditions. Channelized attention occurs when the pilot focuses his attention exclusively on one element of the environment, unintentionally disregarding other important information.

The white salt flat covering the range was covered by two to three inches of clear, calm water, which created a mirror between the ground and the sky. The mirror effect gave the pilot the illusion that he had unlimited maneuvering space when in fact his aircraft was close to the ground.

For more information, contact the ACC Public Affairs office at (757) 764-5007 or e-mail acc.pam@langley.af.mil.