Bruce A. Peterson, Inspiration for Bionic Man Series, 72

Bruce A. Peterson, a NASA pilot and engineer whose crash in an M2-F2 rocket in 1967 inspired the creation of the 1970s television series "The Six Million Dollar Man'' has died, it was announced today. He was 72.

Peterson died after a lengthy illness in Laguna Niguel yesterday, according to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, based in Edwards. Peterson retired in 1981 after a 21-year career at Dryden, much of it dedicated to work with the center's legendary research aircraft.

The crash of the M2-F2 on May 10, 1967, was his most famous. Although he regained control of the craft after it entered a violent "Dutch roll" motion, the M2-F2 struck the surface of the dry lakebed at an estimated 250 mph before the landing gear was fully down.

It bounced, tumbled and rolled across the lakebed, coming to rest on its back. Peterson was hospitalized for an extensive time and lost sight in one eye due to a secondary infection while hospitalized.

The event inspired the 1974-78 ABC series, "The Six Million Dollar Man" which starred Lee Majors as test pilot and astronaut who is rebuilt with advanced "bionic" technology after being severely injured in a crash like Peterson's.

Film footage of the M2-F2 accident was used in the show's opening credits. Peterson continued flying until 1971, with more than 6,000 flight hours in nearly 70 types of aircraft.