The reaction C2H + O-2 -> CH(A(2)Delta) + CO2 is investigated using Fourier transform visible emission spectroscopy. C2H radicals, produced by 193 nm photolysis of C2H2, react with O-2 molecules at low total pressures to produce electronically excited CH(A(2)Delta). Observation of the CH(A(2)Delta - X2 Pi) electronic emission to infer nascent rotational and vibrational CH(A(2)Delta) distributions provides information about energy partitioning in the CH(A(2)Delta) fragment during the reaction. The rotational and vibrational populations of the CH(A(2)Delta) product are determined by fitting the rotationally resolved experimental spectra with simulated spectra. The CH(A(2)Delta) product is found to be rotationally and vibrationally excited with T-rot congruent to 1150 K and T-vib = 1900 K. The mechanism for this reaction proceeds through one of two five-atom intermediates and requires a crossing between electronic potential surfaces. The rotational excitation suggests a bent geometry for the final intermediate of this reaction before dissociation to products, and the vibrational excitation involves an elongation of the C-H bond from the compressed transition state to the final CH(A) state.