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Air Force: Iowa flyover may have been too low

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Pilots who conducted a stunning military flyover before a University of Iowa football game last month may have violated a rule by flying that close to the ground without permission, an Air Force spokeswoman said Friday.

The flyover by four T-38 Talon Trainer jets at the end of the national anthem shocked and awed the Kinnick Stadium crowd of 70,000 during the Nov. 20 game against Ohio State.

Fans said they couldn’t believe how close the jets came to hitting one of the scoreboards and were amazed by their precision and deafening sound. Many posted videos of the flyover on YouTube.

An internal investigation has been opened to determine whether the flyover violated Air Force rules, said 1st Lt. Katie Roling, chief of public affairs at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla. She said the four pilots involved were part of the 25th Flying Training Squadron headquartered at Vance.

Maj. Chris Kopacek, one of the pilots, told The Des Moines Register in a story published this week that he and the other pilots had clearance to fly at an altitude of just 500 feet.

Roling disputed that account. She said that permission, which requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and an Air Force official, was never granted and the flight should have been at least 1,000 feet above ground.

Roling said the investigation was looking into the precise altitude of the jets. If pilots are found to have violated any rules, they could face unspecified punitive action, she said.

“We want to make sure it’s thorough,” she said of the investigation. “We want to make it a fair and unbiased fact-finding investigation right now. We don’t know everything.”

The investigation is a stunning turn for the pilots, who were given a loud ovation when they were honored on the field during a break in the game. Ohio State defeated Iowa 20-17.

Kopacek grew up in Ankeny, a suburb of Des Moines, and has received positive publicity locally for leading the flyover. A Hawkeyes fan, Kopacek has said it was a great experience and a way to teach the public about the Air Force.

The Register reported that Kopacek planned to retire from the Air Force shortly after the flyover. Roling said he was still on active duty.

Kopacek and the other pilots involved — 1st Lt. Otto Gerdeman, Maj. Eric Yape and Maj. Kevin Cossey — did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press seeking comment Friday.

Roling said pilots at the base conduct about 20 to 30 military flyovers each year at sporting events, funerals and military celebrations upon request. She said they are approved through the secretary of the Air Force and the FAA.