Air Show Tragedy Death of a Viper An F-16 piloted by Air Force Maj. Brison Phillips explodes upon impacting the ground during an air show at Naval Air Station Kingsville on March 19.

Maj. Phillips was executing a "split S" maneuver when his F-16 Falcon failed to pull out of a dive in time to avoid slamming into earth. Thousands witnessed his death, and the rest of the air show, which was to include an aerial performance by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels, was cancelled.

I was enjoying a day off, and had decided to attend the air show only at the last minute. I had a camera slung over my shoulder, and was shooting photos casually and sporadically. I was struck by the sight of the F-16 as it taxied only yards from me, making its way to the runway. I made a quick picture, and a few more during the demonstration flight. I had put my camera down, and was marveling at the nimble jet fighter's agility when he went into his final dive. The horrific explosion paralyzed me for a moment, then I lifted my camera and began to make photos. The expanding flames and smoke were terribly awesome to see as I shot, but I was most struck by the sounds of spectators; their screams and gasps. One man pleaded with fate, "Where's the parachute, the chute! Did he eject?"

Maj. Phillips, a Gulf War veteran, was assigned to the Ninth Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.