Sun, Feb 19, 2012
Authorities Discover Pot On Board When Inspecting The Aircraft
After Intercept
Failure to check NOTAMS has landed the pilot of a Cessna 182 in
hot water. He was detained at Long Beach International Airport on
Thursday after busting a TFR in southern California and
reportedly flying too close to the President's helicopter. And the
TFR violation turned out to be only the beginning of his
troubles.
LA Area Sectional
The pilots of Marine One could reportedly clearly see the
Cessna, and the president was not in danger at any time, according
to authorities.
The Cessna was intercepted by a pair of Air Force F-16s and
directed to land at Long Beach, where the pilot, who has not been
identified, was detained and questioned. The Wall Street
Journal reports that marijuana was found aboard the plane, but
officials did not specifically say in what quantity.
The Cessna was flying in airspace that would be considered legal
under normal circumstances at 4,000 feet directly above LAX in
VFR conditions. But with the President arriving at the airport for
a departure to San Francisco, a TFR was in place over the airport
extending out 30 miles. The pilot, thinking he was legal for VFR,
also thought he was not required to be in contact with ATC and did
not respond when attempts were made to contact him. He had not
filed a flight plan.
While the pilot can lose his flying privileges and have his
pilot certificate suspended for violating the TFR, this pilot has
other problems as well. His reason for not filing a flight plan may
have been connected to what sources close to the investigation
say was as much as 40 pounds of pot aboard the the Cessna.
While Secret Service agents determined that the pilot's intent was
not to harm the President, he'll be facing charges related to the
cargo, which he said he originally assumed was the reason he was
intercepted in the first place.
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