Posted on 07/07/2005 3:24:15 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Classic cars from all over the West traveled to Logan last weekend for the Cache Valley Cruise-In, but it's a low-flying airplane that has drawn police attention.
Officers are investigating two men who reportedly have admitted dropping water balloons from an airplane flying just a few hundred feet off the ground. The balloon bombing runs occurred early Sunday as Logan streets were filled with people attending the Cruise-In, the city's annual car show.
Police Lt. Rod Peterson said there were no reports of injuries or property damage, but the two men could face state criminal charges and be in trouble with federal authorities.
"I don't think they were thinking," Peterson said of the two men. "It was just a very dangerous, very foolish act on their part."
Peterson said the men were in a Cessna 150, a single-engine, two-person aircraft. The pilot was a 21-year-old Smithfield man who had a student license and was not authorized to have a passenger. His passenger was 22.
About 1 a.m. Sunday, Peterson said, the airplane made a pass over the Logan crowds and dropped water balloons. The airplane made another pass 10 or 15 minutes later and dropped more balloons.
"Of the pilot's own admission, he believes he was between 300 and 400 feet," Peterson said. "Those who were on the ground to witness it believe he was only 150 to 200 feet off the ground."
The lieutenant said the pilot shut off the plane's lights, but the aircraft was still visible from the ground. Peterson said the passenger was the one dropping the balloons and there is some discrepancy about how many were dropped, but the passenger has admitted to dropping a total of five balloons.
The passenger said he was aiming for a Smith's grocery store parking lot.
Peterson found the two men at the Logan airport. When first questioned, they denied being in the air or in the airplane, but they later admitted their roles, Peterson said.
The pair have suggested they dropped the balloons because they had friends below, Peterson said.
Peterson said he expects to meet this week with the Cache County attorney to determine whether criminal charges will be filed. He also plans to turn his case over to the Federal Aviation Administration, which could revoke the pilot's license.
ncarlisle@sltrib.com
From what I've read he doesn't even have a pilot's license. I bet this won't improve his chances of getting one.
Just slightly illegal.
They're lucky they didn't "find" some power lines or a tower.
For certain offenses, the Singapore model seems most appropriate -- public flogging.
Bwahahahahahaha....they should just be glad it wasn't turkeys.
Water weighs 8.2 lbs per gallon and could be very dangerous from those heights. The weight and velocity when they hit the ground could have easily killed someone or done lots of damage to a car. Were the car moving it could then have killed others. Anyone that dumb should not be allowed to control a plane.
On the surface, this may seem like a funny little thing. Water balloons don't hurt you, right? Wrong, this could have been very bad. Dropping these on a crowd of people, these guys are seriously lucky nobody got hurt or killed. It could have easily been an aggravated battery or manslaughter charge.
It's unlawful to drop anything from an aircraft in populated areas or that could result in harm to life or property.....paraphrased FCC code.....learned in pilots basic 101....
NeverGore :^)
And water balloons are fun at 20 to 30 feet, but a couple of hundred feet? They might as well have been dropping cinder blocks.
got velocity?
Stupid, very stupid...we should grant this guy his license and send him on a solo flight across the Pacific.
Can't anyone take a joke, these days?
It staggers the mind that anyone that ignorant of physics could be allowed to pilot a plane...
FAA code too I betcha! ;p
This joke could have easily killed someone.
Dumb, doo-bee dumb, dumb, dumb.
That would likely be FAA code. Of course, dropping radios from that height could be dangerous as well :o)
Luckily this joke will prevent an idiot from joining the pilot ranks.
Ya think?
In flying, the only thing worse than incompetence is immaturity.
They got the tense right; had a student license, LOL.
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