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Military: Pilot OK After Ejection, F-15 Crash Witness: Guardsman Said Plane Was Unresponsive POSTED: 11:21 am EDT May 30, 2007 An Air National Guard pilot with 15 years' experience escaped serious injury Wednesday when he ejected from his F-15, just moments before the fighter jet crashed into a southwestern Indiana farm field during a training exercise. The jet from the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Fighter Wing went down at 10:49 a.m. EDT in a lightly populated rural area near the Indiana-Illinois state line, south of Vincennes, the Air Guard said. The jet from the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Fighter Wing went down at 10:49 a.m. EDT in a lightly populated rural area near the Indiana-Illinois state line, south of Vincennes, the Air Guard said. Slideshow: Crash Site
Fact Sheet: F-15 Eagle Missouri Air National Guard spokesman Col. Greg Champagne said the pilot, whom he declined to identify, parachuted to the ground and was in good condition. Guard officials declined to discuss his injuries, citing military privacy policies. Missouri Air National Guard spokesman Col. Greg Champagne said the pilot, whom he declined to identify, parachuted to the ground and was in good condition. Guard officials declined to discuss his injuries, citing military privacy policies. "He's an experienced pilot -- flying over 15 years," Champagne said during a news conference at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, where the 131st Fighter Wing is headquartered. "He's an experienced pilot -- flying over 15 years," Champagne said during a news conference at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, where the 131st Fighter Wing is headquartered. The crash occurred during practice maneuvers involving four F-15s from St. Louis and four F-16 jets from the Indiana Air National Guard's 181st Fighter Wing, based in Terre Haute, the Guard said. No other aircraft was damaged in the accident, and there were no reports of injuries on the ground, the Guard said. The crash occurred during practice maneuvers involving four F-15s from St. Louis and four F-16 jets from the Indiana Air National Guard's 181st Fighter Wing, based in Terre Haute, the Guard said. No other aircraft was damaged in the accident, and there were no reports of injuries on the ground, the Guard said. A witness, John Snider, told 6News that he talked to the pilot shortly after he parachuted to the ground. A witness, John Snider, told 6News that he talked to the pilot shortly after he parachuted to the ground. "I asked him what happened. He said the airplane was just unresponsive," Snider said. "I asked him what happened. He said the airplane was just unresponsive," Snider said. The plane was flying at about 20,000 feet prior to the crash, officials said. The plane was flying at about 20,000 feet prior to the crash, officials said. The Air Force will convene a safety investigation board, which will take at least 30 days to reach a conclusion about what caused the crash. The Air Force will convene a safety investigation board, which will take at least 30 days to reach a conclusion about what caused the crash. Smoke was still visible several hours after the jet crashed into a field between two farm houses and near large power lines. No live munitions were on the plane, but officials urged people to stay clear of the area out of concern that some of the burning material could be hazardous, said Col. Chris Colbert, vice commander of the 181st Fighter Wing, which was helping investigate. Smoke was still visible several hours after the jet crashed into a field between two farm houses and near large power lines. No live munitions were on the plane, but officials urged people to stay clear of the area out of concern that some of the burning material could be hazardous, said Col. Chris Colbert, vice commander of the 181st Fighter Wing, which was helping investigate. Investigators were unable to get close to the smoldering wreckage, which was mostly below ground, Colbert said. Investigators were unable to get close to the smoldering wreckage, which was mostly below ground, Colbert said. Witness Willie Mayberry told Evansville television station WFIE that he saw two jets dogfighting before the crash. Witness Willie Mayberry told Evansville television station WFIE that he saw two jets dogfighting before the crash. "I saw one of them make a loop and start to lose altitude," he said. "Then all of a sudden I saw the pilot eject, the seat separated from him and I saw the parachute open. Then all of the sudden, the jet hit the ground. I saw a billow of black smoke and then a big old ball of fire." "I saw one of them make a loop and start to lose altitude," he said. "Then all of a sudden I saw the pilot eject, the seat separated from him and I saw the parachute open. Then all of the sudden, the jet hit the ground. I saw a billow of black smoke and then a big old ball of fire." Farmer Alfrey Frey said jets often practice in the skies above the area, which Colbert confirmed. Farmer Alfrey Frey said jets often practice in the skies above the area, which Colbert confirmed. "They dogfight over us all the time," the 79-year-old Frey said. "They dogfight over us all the time," the 79-year-old Frey said. The jet that crashed was part of a training sortie in the Red Hill Military Operating Area, a military air space that stretches more than 150 miles from Illinois, near St. Louis, to Indiana. The jet that crashed was part of a training sortie in the Red Hill Military Operating Area, a military air space that stretches more than 150 miles from Illinois, near St. Louis, to Indiana. The plane that crashed was built in 1978, but its age was not suspected as a cause of the accident, Champagne said. A preliminary report was expected in about 30 days, he said. The plane that crashed was built in 1978, but its age was not suspected as a cause of the accident, Champagne said. A preliminary report was expected in about 30 days, he said. The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable tactical fighter, according to The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable tactical fighter, according to an Air Force fact sheet The crash was the third of a fighter jet in southern Indiana and Illinois since 2001. The crash was the third of a fighter jet in southern Indiana and Illinois since 2001. On May 17, 2004, two F-16 fighter jets from the 181st Fighter Wing collided during routine training near the Indiana-Illinois state line. One of the pilots was killed, and the second parachuted to safety. On May 17, 2004, two F-16 fighter jets from the 181st Fighter Wing collided during routine training near the Indiana-Illinois state line. One of the pilots was killed, and the second parachuted to safety. In July 2001, an F-16 from the 181st Fighter Wing crashed just over the Indiana-Illinois state line near Parkersburg, Ill., about 70 miles southwest of Terre Haute. The pilot ejected safely. Copyright 2007 by TheIndyChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In July 2001, an F-16 from the 181st Fighter Wing crashed just over the Indiana-Illinois state line near Parkersburg, Ill., about 70 miles southwest of Terre Haute. The pilot ejected safely.
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United States Air Force F-15 Eagle.
In the United States this morning, an F-15 Eagle fighter jet from the Missouri Air National Guard crashed near Vincennes, Indiana. Reports say that the pilot successfully ejected prior to the crash and walked to first responders under his own power. The crash occurred in a sparsely populated area and there are no reports of injuries on the ground.

The pilot was taken to Vincennes Hospital to be checked for injuries.

The fighter jet was performing maneuvers with three other aircraft, none of which were involved in the incident. All four aircraft are part of the 131st Fighter Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard, flying out of Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri.  The training maneuvers were taking place at Military Operating Area Red Hills in southern Illinois and Indiana.

Resources from the Indiana Air National Guard 181st Fighter Wing from Terre Haute, Indiana, are securing the area surrounding the crash site. They will be joined by UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter support from the 38th Aviation Brigade of the Indiana National Guard from Shelbyville, Indiana.