Tyndall officials have identified the F-16 pilot involved in Thursday’s crash as Mr. Matthew J. LaCourse, age 58, of Panama City Beach.
LaCourse was a Department of the Air Force Civilian Pilot assigned to the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron. A native of San Antonio, TX, LaCourse graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1978, and retired as a USAF Lieutenant Colonel in 2000 with more than 22 years’ service.
Recovery operations continue to collect evidence to assist qualified officers assembled to conduct Safety and Accident investigations into the cause of this crash. There will be no further details released about this incident until these investigations are completed.