A German air force officer has joined the investigation of an American F-16 fighter that crashed near Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Sept. 14, the Air Force announced this week.

Lt. Col. Michael Baumgart, who serves with the Directorate of German Flight Safety in Cologne, will be part of an accident investigation board. U.S. Air Force Col. Peter Davidson, 616th Support Group commander at Ramstein Air Base, is lead investigator and accident investigation board president.

Baumgart has more than 1,500 hours of flight time in fighter aircraft.

Investigators are trying to find out what caused a landing gear problem on the F-16 during a training mission. The pilot, 1st Lt. Trevor Merrell, ejected just outside of the town of Oberkail. He received minor injuries in the incident. No one else was injured in the crash.

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