We've Heard Of Road Rage, But Air Rage?

Alaskan pilot Edward Byron Lamb, 38, was convicted last Tuesday of several felony counts of assault with a dangerous instrument -- his Super Cub (photo of type below).

A Dillingham Superior Court judge found Lamb guilty of eight counts of assault in the third degree for his ridiculous aerial antics last year before and after moose hunting season.

Lamb and a passenger buzzed Mike Mroczynski, a hunting guide, and his two clients who were camped in a meadow some 60 miles north of Dillingham scouting for hunting areas. When Lamb spotted the men from the air, he dove from 500 feet pulling out just 10 feet above their heads. The terrified trio hit the dirt before scurrying under some nearby trees. Mroczynski told the court Lamb's dive scared the "living crap" out of him and his clients.

Lamb made two more passes over the meadow offering Mroczynski a one-fingered salute during each.

Mroczynski's next run in with Lamb came later in the year. Pilot and owner of Alaska West Air Doug Brewer was picking Mroczynski up from a lake when Lamb appeared overhead.

In a seeming attempt to prevent Brewer from taking off, Lamb cut tight circles above Brewer's aircraft while cursing him on the radio.

Later the same day on a different flight, Lamb appeared in the air next to Brewer positioning his Super Cub above, below and off Brewer's wing. Brewer estimates Lamb came as close as 20 feet. Lamb challenged Brewer on the radio to land and settle their differences.

Brewer told the Anchorage Daily News, "It was coming from someone who was crazed. It was vulgar. When someone's talking like that you don't what will happen. A flick of his wrist and we would have wrecked." Brewer added he refused to land because he feared Lamb might shoot him.

After getting buzzed inflight, Brewer contacted the FAA who revoked Lamb's license earlier this year. The case was handed over to the Alaska Attorney General for prosecution.

According to court documents, Lamb is also a hunting guide and his dangerous activities were a seriously misguided attempt to discourage the competition. He maintains a cabin and landing strip near the meadow where he buzzed Mroczynski.

When contacted for comment by the Alaska Daily News, Lamb proclaimed his innocence saying the issue is "complicated."

Lamb faces up to five years in prison and a maximum $50,000 fine for each guilty count. Sentencing is set for April.

FMI: www.law.state.ak.us