SAFFORD, Ariz. -- An F-16 fighter jet crashed in southeastern Arizona Tuesday afternoon, Arizona Air National Guard officials said. The pilot was killed, according to the Graham County Sheriff's Office.

The crash occurred about 20 miles northwest of Safford, Arizona, the officials said. Safford is about 165 miles southeast of Phoenix.

The Fighting Falcon was assigned to the Arizona Guard's 162nd Wing. The unit is based at Tucson International Airport and serves as the Air National Guard's lead F-16 pilot training unit.

The Air Force activated a team to investigate the crash, which was the second involving an F-16 Fighting Falcon flying from the 162nd Wing and the third F-16 crash in Arizona since mid-2015.

The 162nd Wing tweeted first word of the crash:</s>Arizona residents who are following the destructive paths of hurricanes Harvey and Irma may be wondering if a hurricane has ever hit Arizona.

Given the state's heat, drought and other factors, Arizona has been spared the punch of a full-on hurricane. But it periodically gets the remnants of Pacific hurricanes in the form of rain, and some of those storms have reached Arizona at tropical-storm strength.

The most recent was the remains of Hurricane Nora in 1997. Here are some of the more significant storms that have reached Arizona, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Sept. 21-30, 1921, unnamed storm: A tropical storm crossed the Baja peninsula southwest of Yuma and moved up the Colorado River Valley. Several stations along the Colorado River reported more than 3 inches of rain, including 3.65 inches at Yuma. Other amounts included 1.5 inches at Flagstaff, 1.24 at Prescott, 0.68 at Tucson and 0.56 at Phoenix.

Aug. 24-28, 1951, unnamed storm: A hurricane came ashore on the Baja peninsula southwest of Yuma. More than 5 inches of rain fell in southwestern Arizona. Other amounts included 4 inches in Flagstaff, 3.95 at Prescott, 3.24 at Phoenix and 1.55 at Nogales.

Severe flooding was reported, and Gila Bend was cut off from motor travel as bridges and roads were washed out. Damage in 1951 dollars exceeded $750,000.

Sept. 25-27, 1962, Tropical Storm Claudia: The remains of Tropical Storm Claudia caused severe flash flooding in and around Tucson. Up to 7 inches of rain fell in the desert just west of Tucson near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Flood water inundated Marana and Sells.

Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 1967, Hurricane Katrina: Hurricane Katrina blew up the Gulf of California and came ashore south of Yuma. More than 2 inches of rain fell in southwest Arizona.

Sept. 4-5, 1970, Tropical Storm Norma: This did not make landfall as a tropical storm, but its remnants caused extensive flooding in Arizona and it became known as the Labor Day Storm, the state’s deadliest. Twenty-three people were killed in central Arizona, including 14 who died from flash flooding on Tonto Creek in the vicinity of Kohl’s Ranch.

Total rainfall at Workman Creek, about 30 miles north of Globe in the Sierra Ancha Mountains, was 11.92 inches, with 11.4 inches falling in 24 hours. Other amounts included 9.09 inches at Upper Parker Creek, 8.74 at Mount Lemmon, 8.44 at Sunflower, 8.08 at Kitt Peak, 7.12 at the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery and 7.01 inches at Crown King.

Oct. 4-7, 1972, Hurricane Joanne: This storm moved across the Baja peninsula and came ashore in western Mexico south of Ajo.

It arrived in Arizona as Tropical Storm Joanne, the first documented time that a tropical storm reached the state with its cyclonic circulation intact.

Heavy rain fell over much Arizona with severe flooding in Clifton, Duncan and Safford. More than 5 inches of rain was reported on the Mogollon Rim southeast of Flagstaff. Rainfall amounts included 4.44 inches at Flagstaff, 3.80 at Prescott, 2.21 at Yuma, 1.95 at Phoenix, 1.63 at Nogales and 1.63 at Tucson.

Sept. 10-11, 1976, Hurricane Kathleen: The remains of Hurricane Kathleen move across Baja and into southern California near El Centro with its circulation still intact. Tropical storm-force winds caused considerable damage in Yuma. Sustained winds exceeded 50 mph there, and gusts were as high as 76 mph. A man was killed when a 75-foot palm tree crashed onto his mobile home.

Oct. 4-7, 1977, Hurricane Heather: The remains of the storm produced heavy rain and flooding over extreme southern Arizona, with 8.3 inches of rain at Nogales. As much as 14 inches fell in the surrounding mountains.

Sept. 28-Oct. 7, 1983, Hurricane Octave: Tropical-storm remnants, including those from Octave, caused heavy rain over Arizona during a 10-day period. Southeast Arizona and Yavapai and Mohave counties were particularly hard hit. Severe flooding occurred in Tucson, Clifton and Safford.

Fourteen deaths and 975 injuries were attributed to the flooding. At least 10,000 Arizonans were left temporarily homeless. Damage in today’s dollars is estimated at $370 million. Rainfall amounts include 9.83 inches at Nogales, 6.67 at Safford, 6.4 at Tucson, 3.93 at Flagstaff, 2.65 at Phoenix and 2.62 at Prescott.

Sept. 25-26, 1997, Hurricane Nora: The remains of hurricane Nora moved up the Colorado River. The center of the storm passed directly over Yuma with wind gusts up to 54 mph. Significant flooding occurred across western Arizona.

Harquahala Mountain saw 11.97 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, breaking the record set at Workman Creek in the 1970 Labor Day Storm.</s>iStock/Thinkstock(PHOENIX) — An F-16 fighter jet with the Arizona Air National Guard crashed Tuesday afternoon in southeastern Arizona, officials said.

“Rescue efforts are underway and the status of the pilot is unknown at this time,” read a statement on the Facebook page of the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing, of which the F-16 Fighting Falcon is based out of.

The crash happened at 3 p.m. about 20 miles northwest of Safford, Arizona.

The U.S. Air Force has assembled an interim safety board to investigate the incident.</s>Arizona Air National Guard officials say an F-16 fighter has crashed in southeastern Arizona but the fate of the pilot isn't yet known.

The crash happened at mid-afternoon Tuesday about 20 miles northwest of Safford. A Guard news release says rescue efforts are underway.

The Fighting Falcon was assigned to the Arizona Guard's 162nd Wing. The unit is based at Tucson International Airport and serves as the Air National Guard's lead F-16 pilot training unit.

The U.S. Air force has activated a team to investigate the crash.</s>A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 162nd Fighter Wing, Arizona Air National Guard, prepares to refuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker on July 21, 2017.

SAFFORD, Ariz. — Arizona Air National Guard officials say an F-16 fighter has crashed in southeastern Arizona but the fate of the pilot isn't yet known.

The crash happened at mid-afternoon Tuesday about 20 miles northwest of Safford. A Guard news release says rescue efforts are underway.

The Fighting Falcon was assigned to the Arizona Guard's 162nd Wing. The unit is based at Tucson International Airport and serves as the Air National Guard's lead F-16 pilot training unit.

The U.S. Air force has activated a team to investigate the crash.</s>An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed near Safford Tuesday afternoon, according to the Arizona Air National Guard.

National Guard officials said the pilot's status is not yet known, but rescue efforts are underway.

The aircraft is based out of the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing, and the crash site is about 20 miles northwest of Safford. The 162nd Wing is based at Tucson International Airport.</s>SAFFORD, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Air National Guard officials say an F-16 fighter has crashed in southeastern Arizona but the fate of the pilot isn't yet known.

The crash happened at mid-afternoon Tuesday about 20 miles northwest of Safford. A Guard news release says rescue efforts are underway.

The Fighting Falcon was assigned to the Arizona Guard's 162nd Wing. The unit is based at Tucson International Airport and serves as the Air National Guard's lead F-16 pilot training unit.

The U.S. Air force has activated a team to investigate the crash.

This article was from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.</s>An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed near Safford Tuesday afternoon, according to the Arizona Air National Guard.

National Guard officials said the pilot's status is not yet known, but rescue efforts are underway. The Eastern Arizona Courier reported that the pilot had died, according to the Graham County Sheriff's Office, but the sheriff's office has not responded to 12 News' requests for information.

The aircraft is based out of the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing, and the crash site is about 20 miles northwest of Safford. The 162nd Wing is based at Tucson International Airport.</s>An F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing. (Source: Arizona Air National Guard)

Officials said the pilot's status is unknown.

The plane is based out of the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing.

The Arizona Air National Guard said rescue efforts are ongoing.

The unit is based in Tucson and flies out of TIA.

MOBILE USERS: Download our Tucson News Now app for Apple and Android devices.</s>The Arizona Air National Guard has confirmed an F-16 based out of the 162nd Wing crashed in southeast Arizona. However, officials said they could not confirm the status of the pilot.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed approximately 20 miles northwest of Safford at 3:00pm on Tuesday, according to a Guard news release.

“The Air Force has assembled an interim safety board to investigate the incident and additional details will be provided as soon as they become available,” the 162nd Wing said in a statement Tuesday.

The National Guard said that rescue efforts are under way, adding that the status of the pilot is “unknown at this time.”

However, the Eastern Arizona Courier reported that Graham County Sheriff PJ Allred confirmed the pilot died as a result of the crash.

“All I can say is we do have a crash, and it appears to be an Air Force jet,” Allred said. “We’re waiting on the inspectors from Davis-Monthan (Air Force Base, in Tucson) to come out.”

RT America reached out to the Graham County Sheriff’s office, which is located in Safford, Arizona, but they said they could not comment on the status of the pilot until tomorrow.

The Fighting Falcon unit is based at Tucson International Airport and serves as the Air National Guard’s lead F-16 pilot training unit.
An Arizona Air National Guard F-16 crashes near Safford, Arizona, killing the pilot.