Stearman Pilot Found Guilty of False Statements in Water Crash

Former airline pilot admits lying to federal authorities regarding the Oklahoma biplane accident in summer 2022.

Thursday, June 06, 2024 at 11:04 AM ET

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The Oklahoma Highway Patrol recovered the Boeing Stearman PT-17 biplane from Keystone Lake on August 28, 2022. [Courtesy: Oklahoma Highway Patrol]

Key Takeaways:

Former airline pilot Bruce Forbes admitted lying to federal authorities about the 2022 crash of a Stearman biplane, initially blaming engine trouble but later confessing he was flying dangerously low and struck power lines.
Forbes stated his motive for lying was to avoid being found flying unsafely, which he believed would hinder insurance payments.
His passenger corroborated the low-level "water dancing" flight and alleged Forbes abandoned her in the sinking plane; Forbes now faces up to five years in prison and a fine after pleading guilty.

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A former airline pilot has admitted lying to federal authorities regarding the crash of a Stearman biplane he was flying with a passenger in Oklahoma in summer 2022.

Former United Airlines pilot Bruce Forbes, 66 at the time, initially told authorities the Stearman experienced engine trouble on a sightseeing flight over a lake and he struck power lines while he was trying to troubleshoot the engine issues. On Monday, he pled guilty in federal court to misrepresenting the facts.