Accidental Incursion Second Reported In Three Weeks

Maybe he just wanted to drop off his wedding gift early? A pilot had to answer some questions last week, after he accidentally overflew the dreaded P-49 restricted area over the Bush ranch in Crawford, TX.

The Durant Democrat reports the pilot was questioned by authorities in the Oklahoma town, after he landed there late Friday afternoon. The pilot was bound for Durant, and accidentally entered the restricted zone... and promptly hustled out of it when notified by controllers.

No additional action was taken by authorities against the Texas pilot, according to the paper.

P-49 extends in a three-mile radius from the center of the President's ranch when he is not present... but swells to 30 nautical miles when either Bush or his family is at the ranch. NOTAM 8/6428 was in effect from last Thursday through Sunday, due to the Saturday wedding of the President's daughter, Jenna.

The apparent violation is the second reported bust of P-49 within the past three weeks. As ANN reported, infamous British pilot Maurice Kirk landed his single-engine plane six miles from President Bush's ranch in Crawford on April 25. Kirk reportedly wanted to drop off a note at the ranch, thanking Bush for his February rescue 80 miles off the coast of the Dominican Republic.

Kirk's wife insisted her husband may be eccentric, but he did not violate P-49... as the President wasn't in Crawford at the time.

FMI: www.tfr.faa.gov