ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, December 4, 1993                   TAG: 9312040270
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: associated press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short


NATIONAL GUARD PILOT EJECTS SAFELY AFTER FIGHTER CRASH-LANDS AND BURNS

A military jet caught fire while landing at Richmond International Airport on Friday, but the pilot safely ejected from the burning craft.

The F-16C was returning from a training mission about 10:50 a.m. when it ignited, said Warren Meehan, air traffic manager at the airport.

The pilot, Capt. Joe Pico, ejected from the single-seat plane while it was still rolling. He was reported to be in good shape and was walking around the runway shortly after the incident. He was taken to a hospital at Langley Air Force Base for evaluation.



 by CNB