Posted on: Friday, June 1, 2001

Stunt-pilot error blamed in 'Pearl' crash

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Errors by a stunt pilot caused the crash of his replica Japanese dive bomber during filming of "Pearl Harbor" last year, according to a final report published this month by the National Transportation Safety Board.

A safety board investigation concluded that pilot Gene Armstrong failed to anticipate turbulence from an airplane flying in front of him, and that he also failed to maintain control of his plane, a Convair BT-13A modified to resemble a Japanese "Val."

The crash occurred April 17, 2000, as three replica Vals swooped low over Ford Island in a modified V-formation. The pre-flight plan called for the wingmen to fly higher than the lead plane as all three flew through smoke.

As they concluded the low pass, the left wing of Armstrong's plane struck a 65-foot-tall palm tree, severing 18 feet of wing. The plane then cartwheeled to the left twice and crashed upside-down on the grass beside the Ford Island runway.

The force of the crash threw the plane's engine an additional 236 feet beyond the crash site.

Armstrong, who was interviewed by safety board investigators while being treated at Tripler Army Medical Center, is an experienced pilot with 6,100 hours of flight time the day of the crash.

"He stated that the last thing that he recalled was experiencing turbulence from the flight leader," the final report said. "He further stated that the smoke generators were not an issue and he did not fly into or through smoke."

After reviewing video footage of the crash, the safety board also concluded that smoke being generated for filming that day did not obscure the pilot's vision.

Armstrong was held in place by a five-point restraint system and treated for a broken finger. But because he was in the hospital for nearly two days, the safety board termed his injuries serious.