Vance AFB, Okla., identified the two airmen killed in a Nov. 21 T-38 mishap on the base as a lieutenant colonel instructor pilot and second lieutenant student pilot.
The incident, which involved two Talons that were landing at Vance, killed Lt. Col. John “Matt” Kincade, 47, and 2nd Lt. Travis B. Wilkie, 23, according to a Vance release.
Kincade was an instructor pilot assigned to the 5th Flying Training Squadron at Vance. He is survived by his wife and two sons. In August, Kincade was named the top instructor pilot in the 340th Flying Training Group.
Wilkie was assigned to the 71st Student Squadron, and is survived by his wife, parents, and sister.
Kincade and Wilkie were landing in a T-38 alongside another Talon as part of a formation flight when the incident occurred. Images of the scene show one T-38 upside down on the side of the runway with its landing gear engaged, with another T-38 further down the runway, upright. The airmen in the other Talon were not injured, 71st Training Wing Commander Col. Corey Simmons said during a Nov. 21 press conference.
The base suspended flying operations following the incident, and Simmons said he expected to make a decision within days on when to resume flying. Vance flies the T-38 along with T-6s and T-1s for pilot training. The wing flies about 225 missions per day. An investigation into the incident is underway, Simmons said.