Shaw begins collision probe

By ANNABELLE ROBERTSON
Item Staff Writer
arobertson@theitem.com

The investigation has begun into what caused last week's collision of two F-16s collision off Charleston, in which a Shaw Air Force Base fighter pilot perished with his plane. Capt. Nicholas Giglio of Shaw's 77th Fighter Squadron disappeared last Thursday evening after hitting the underside of his wingman's F-16 about 19,000 feet above sea level. The two were flying in a two-ship fighter formation during routine training maneuvers.

The aircraft of Capt. Lee Bryant was severely damaged, but he was able to land safely at Charleston Air Force Base and suffered no injuries.

After a 48-hour search for Giglio and his plane, which yielded only small pieces of aircraft debris, the search was called off Saturday night. It had covered more than 8,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean about 30 nautical miles northeast of Charleston.

"If Capt. Giglio had ejected safely from the aircraft, we are confident that we would have found him," said Capt. Michael F. McAllister, Coast Guard sector commander in Charleston.

Col. Joseph Guastella, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw, said that no trace of Giglio had been found, and that an analysis of Bryant's plane indicated that the collision had been "traumatic." Guastella also said that Giglio probably had died "instantly."

"The speed and the geometry at which the aircraft hit breached Capt. Giglio's canopy, and the injuries he sustained are most certainly fatal," said Guastella. "He had no opportunity to eject from that aircraft. We will make every effort to recover Capt. Giglio's aircraft and his remains. (And) we will continue to investigate this accident."

GIGLIO (high school photo)

Giglio, who was 32, leaves behind a wife, Leigh, who is pregnant, and a young daughter. The family lives in Sumter.

The Coast Guard, which led a search-and-rescue team of more than 200 workers and numerous aircraft and boats from the Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, law enforcement and civilian population, is not involved in the recovery effort, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Bobby Nash.

"The Coast Guard does not typically participate in recovery missions unless we are specifically asked," he said. "The aircraft belongs to the Air Force, so they will be taking care of that."

According to the Public Affairs Office of Shaw Air Force Base, a safety investigation board has now convened at the base to investigate the mishap.

"Safety investigations and reports are conducted and written solely to prevent future mishaps," said Lt. Col. Danny Palubeckis, the 20th Fighter Wing's chief of safety. "During the course of the safety investigation, the board members are looking to find the cause or causes of the mishap in order to take preventative action and make recommendations to prevent future occurrences."

The safety investigation board will conclude its assessment within 30 days, and an accident investigation board will begin its investigation into the incident.

Nonclassified information will be in the accident investigation board's report, which will be available once the investigation is complete. Typically, that happens 60 to 90 days after a mishap.

Contact Staff Writer Annabelle Robertson at (803) 774-1250 or e-mail arobertson@theitem.com.