‘Twilight’ Pilot Loses Attempt to Exclude Statements

“Twilight Zone” helicopter pilot Dorcey Wingo took the witness stand Tuesday with jurors absent, but lost a bid to exclude potentially damaging statements he made earlier from his manslaughter trial.

Wingo, one of five defendants in the case, said his only concern when he made the comments after the July, 1982, crash was to help National Transportation Safety Board investigators.

“I don’t know what I felt at that time about what determinations might come out of it,” Wingo said. “I was just trying to cooperate with the NTSB.”

He said that at the time he had no idea he would be the subject of criminal charges. He also recalled being told his statements could not be used against him in court.

His attorney, Eugene Trope, arguing that Wingo was “duped, swayed and deceived” into thinking his statements could not be used against him, asked that the prosecution be barred from asking about the comments if Wingo takes the stand in his own defense.

But Superior Court Judge Roger Boren ruled against him.

“I think it is absolutely clear from the testimony of Mr. Wingo and the manner in which the statements were made that Mr. Wingo quite knowingly and willingly allowed himself to be interviewed,” the judge said.

He added that even if an investigator had not assured him his statements would not be used in court, “I believe . . . Mr. Wingo would have participated in the interview and finished the interview. . . . The court therefore rules these statements are admissible.”

Trope did not immediately comment on whether his client would take the stand and face cross-examination on his original statements.

Actor Vic Morrow and two child actors died July, 23, 1982, when Wingo’s helicopter, buffeted by special-effects explosions, crashed on top of them during filming of a Vietnam War scene in “Twilight Zone: The Movie.”

Wingo, director John Landis, associate producer George Folsey, production manager Dan Allingham and special-effects supervisor Paul Stewart are charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The prior statements include mention that Wingo was ordered to fly lower without knowing exactly where explosions were planted.