The State - News from Aug. 14, 1987
Air Force investigators in Fresno said the pilot of an Air National Guard jet who died with his passenger in a June crash was not qualified for the mission and was flying with falsified records. The pilot, Capt. Wesley Deane of Modesto, and weapons officer Maj. John Jordan Jr. died in the crash after their F-4 Phantom stalled during a low-altitude training flight in the Arizona desert June 13. Deane’s training records at the Fresno Air National Guard base had been altered to exaggerate his low-altitude flying experience, Air Force safety officials said. The crash was blamed on pilot error. The report criticizes Fresno base management for not verifying the accuracy of training records but did not say who actually faked the records. The Fresno Bee obtained a copy of the report before its official release later this month.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.