Florida: Air Force at fault for 2000 collision

A deadly midair collision between an F-16 and a small civilian plane two years ago was the fault of an Air Force pilot whose plane was not involved, federal investigators said.

The Nov. 16, 2000 crash occurred because Lt. Col. James Parker failed to watch what was going on around him as he searched for the practice bombing range at Avon Park near Bradenton, The National Transportation Safety Board concluded in a report released Friday.

Parker was piloting one of two F-16 Fighting Falcons in the area on a training mission from Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. The pilot of the private plane was killed instantly.