No Charges on Pilot Who Upstaged B-2
No criminal charges will be brought against Brian Green, the private pilot who upstaged the planned debut of the B-2 stealth bomber when he made an unauthorized landing Saturday at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale.
Green made an innocent mistake, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen L. Cooley.
“There was no criminal intent,” Cooley said. “He had a flight plan. He became disoriented.”
Green still could face possible suspension of his pilot’s license or other administrative action by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Green, of Porterville in Tulare County, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing. Air Force Plant 42 was closed for the planned inaugural flight of the once super-secret B-2 when Green landed his Cessna 172 on a runway near the stealth bomber and a horde of security agents, military officials, reporters and camera crews.
Green was headed from Porterville to Agua Dulce Airpark with his 9-year-old nephew and 8-year-old niece when he became lost and decided to land at the nearest airport. The Air Force control tower personnel were unable to reach him because he was on a different radio frequency.
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