re: Mid air collision in SC: Cessna and F-16 **2 on Cessna Killed**

Finally caught up in this thread. There is a lot of baseless blame, inaccurate assumptions, and incorrect information being thrown out. None of us were there nor were we witnesses. Throwing blame out is unwarranted at this point since we don't know what happened.

Just because the F-16 has a radar, doesn't mean s/he had it in Air-to-Air mode and even if it was, it is no guarantee that the Cessna would have shown up well if the Cessna was below the F-16.

TCAS responds to Mode C transponders, not other TCAS systems. How do I know this? Because I fly a B-52 that does not have TCAS but has set off the TCAS warnings in aircraft that are equipped. I'm not sure if the F-16 has TCAS or not. Even if equipped it either could have been failed or the Cessna didn't have Mode C on. Again, wasn't there and don't know if either instance is the case here.

Some keep talking about how slower, less maneuverable aircraft have "right of way." This is true, but is only pertinent if both aircraft knew of each other's presence. It also means that "rules of the road" apply (i.e. if it appears you are head-on course, both aircraft turn right). However, if not truly "beak to beak," the premise of nose right, go right applies and vice versa. It also means that high aircraft should break off high and low aircraft breaks off low. For all we know, one of the pilots freaked out and screwed this up.

We don't know what the F-16 was doing in the area, but the F-16 has just as much right to the airspace as the Cessna. Likewise, unless this occurred in Restricted Airspace, the Cessna has just as much right as the F-16. That said, a wise Cessna pilot should know if they are in a MOA, Warning, Alert, or other area that is congested with military traffic and take extreme caution.

Bottomline is that a tragic accident has occurred and NONE of us know the cause, nor who is at fault. Attempts to place blame, IMHO, are disrespectful and irresponsible.