The Associated Press 3/21/01 7:49 PM

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AP) -- The pilot of an F-16 fighter ejected safely before the jet crashed near a bombing range Wednesday morning.

Capt. Dawn Hokaj, who is assigned to the base's 522nd Fighter Squadron, told investigators the jet's single engine failed during the routine training flight. She was treated for minor injuries.

Capt. Susan Romano said the Air Force's investigation of the crash could take months.

The F-16C "Fighting Falcon" is a $20 million single-seat jet used in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0810_BC_BRF--F-16Crash&&news&newsflash-national

-- Doris (nocents@bellsouth.net), March 22, 2001