Aircraft: A-4E Skyhawk
Custodian:
VMA-214
BuNo: 160041
modex: WE-7
Location: Stumps expeditionary field
Date: 1982 - 1983

Description: left side view of Blacksheep Skyhawk BuNo 160041 after it bit the dust a quarter mile short of the runway threshhold.
 

Photo credit: photo by John W. Street, MgySgt, USMC-Ret
contact:
The pilot in BuNo. 160041 side number WE-7 landed short of the runway during a night approach to landing due to weathered lenses on the runway approach lights (Ball). To the pilot it looked just like a centered "ball" all the way to touchdown --- a quarter mile short of the runway threshhold.
The landing ripped the main landing gear from the Skyhawk and the aircraft skidded overland to the runway and then down the runway until the nose gear caught the arresting gear cable and swung 180 degrees to a stop. Pilot walked away with a lot of help from the CFR guys.
The engine and as many useable parts as possible were salvaged. The hulk was left for crash crew to play with; but maybe later someone tried to fix it up

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