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live by a small airfield

Posted: 25 Aug 2005, 15:10
by Grifter
I live by a small airfield...about ten miles away or so. I get light air traffic over my house, small cesna craft and such. Normally, I'm very pleased to see the planes pass over head. Occasionally I even wave hello and one guy in a red bi-plane tipped his wings for Karen and I. It's pretty cool. I have a set binoculars and occasionally I'll watch the birds in my garden and use them to look at aircraft passing by.

However, today this guy in what looked like a Britton Norman buzzed my house. This would be amusing if not for the fact that his two turbo prop engines were incredibly loud. He made two circles around my property. I was on the back deck, making a gesture of "what the heck are ya doing dude?" He was really skimming the tree line...couldn't have been more than a few hundred feet of the ground with his gear extended. I would guess that he must've been held up to land, but still this was kinda ridiculous. Never happened before. Should I do or say anything to someone? As much as I love aircraft and support the local flying community, I don't want local pilots buzzing my home. LOL

Posted: 25 Aug 2005, 17:23
by Hammer
yes - report his N number to the FAA...if you have it from his plane. even better if you have pics or video... it should not be tolerated, and he is irrespinsible and will eventually cause someone/something harm.

Posted: 25 Aug 2005, 17:41
by Grifter
Yeah see that's what I thought. Unfortunately, I only got a little bit of his number. I was so stunnned it took me a minute to grab my binoculars...But I may report the incident anyway giving as much description as possible. I know he can only come from that airfield..it's the only one for small craft in this area. Maybe Marshfield airport...but nah.

Posted: 26 Aug 2005, 06:43
by KODIAK
Steel's right, report the incident to the FAA, giving as much detail as possible. Believe me, you won't have been the only one to have witnessed the incident and probably not the only one to complain or want to complain. The fragments of information will be collated,the people concerned identified, and the incident acted upon without a shadow of doubt - the FAA do not take kindly to people acting like baffoons in the air. It IS very possible he was conducting a test of some nature, but the flight path shouldn't have taken him over your house at that altitude as described by you. It is also possible it was an inexperienced/student pilot in difficulties, who knows. You don't even need to make a complaint, just report it as an unusual incident voicing your concern for safety of the occupants of the aircraft and surrounding area, if you catch my drift.