May Face Suspension Of Medical Pending Treatment If Charges Stick

Details are hard to come by out of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, where veteran airshow performer Patty Wagstaff was scheduled for a Tuesday court appearance following a drunk-driving arrest at Wittman Regional Airport during EAA Airventure.

Wagstaff told ANN shortly after the incident the encounter occurred while she was trying to get back from the "Gathering of Eagles" dinner Thursday evening, July 31. While driving to the nearby Hilton on airport property, the performer said she was stopped by Oshkosh airport and airshow security, who subsequently called the Sheriff in what escalated into a three-hour ordeal.

Wagstaff was initially charged with two violations -- operating while under the influence, and refusal to take a breathalyzer test. She insisted in comments to ANN that she was not impaired.

The Oshkosh Northwestern reports the FAA may require Wagstaff to undergo a treatment program or otherwise satisfy the FAA that she's fit to fly if the charges stick.

FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory told the paper, "When somebody does have a drunk driving conviction we want to see them going through some kind of drunk driving rehabilitation before getting their medical updated. They're going to have to prove it to us and come back and pass the next medical before they can have their certificate valid."

Few details on the proceeding have been released. Winnebago County District Attorney Christian Gossett told the Northwestern his office was still reviewing the incident to determine whether criminal charges would be filed. Wagstaff attorney Christopher Mutschler reportedly could not be reached for comment late last week.

Unlike most pilots, Wagstaff has more concerns than possible fines and certificate suspension by the FAA. Keeping a major aerobatic act on the airshow circuit requires sponsors... though it's worth noting Wagstaff did receive a significant show of confidence from one of those sponsors in September, three weeks after the incident.

Goodyear Aviation Tires announced September 22 it would supply its Flight Custom III tires for Wagstaff's Extra 300S performance aircraft.

FMI: www.pattywagstaff.com