Former Resident Dies in Test-Flight Crash

A former Camarillo resident who went on to become a test pilot for some of this country’s most advanced fighter planes died Friday while attempting an instrument landing at an Air Reserve station north of Philadelphia.

Joost VanBastelaar, 47, of Doylestown, Pa., was flying an A-10 Thunderbolt in a test of his proficiency with the plane’s instruments when he crashed outside Willow Grove Air Reserve Station about 3:35 p.m., according to Air Force spokesman Capt. Leo Devine.

No one on the ground was injured.

After graduating from Camarillo High School in 1968, VanBastelaar attended the Air Force Academy and joined the Air Force in 1972, said his brother-in-law, Dan Quistad of Ventura. After being discharged, he flew for the Air Reserve, as well as the now-defunct Eastern Airlines, and most recently for USAir, Quistad said. He flew during the Gulf War and had spent the last six months enforcing the no-fly zone in the Persian Gulf.

At the time of his death, VanBastelaar was investigating the crash of a Warthog jet, which had killed that plane’s pilot. The $9-million Warthog is used to destroy tanks and provide air support, and was used extensively against ground forces during Desert Storm, officials said.

VanBastelaar is survived by his wife, Sharon, two sons and two adopted daughters. He will be buried with military honors Wednesday in Pennsylvania.