FAA Says The Plane Flew As Below 500 Feet

The FAA is investigating an incident in which the pilot of a US Airways DHC-8-102 with passengers on board flew as low as 500 feet over a mall in Salisbury, MD and his own house.

The investigation came to light through documents requested by The Daily Times of Salisbury under the Freedom of Information Act.

According to the documents, there were 24 passengers aboard US Airways Flight 4343 to Wicomico Airport in eastern Maryland which had originated in Philadelphia December 21, 2012. USA Today reports that, according to the investigation, the pilot operated the airplane with "reckless disregard for safety ... at an excessive speed and dangerously low altitude when not necessary for landing." The FAA said that the pilot, identified as Edmund Draper, "endangered the lives of your passengers, fellow crewmembers and people and property at The Centre at Salisbury Mall. You have demonstrated that you are unable or unwilling to comply with basic regulatory requirements."

The FAA issued an emergency order revoking Draper's ATP certificate June 19 of last year. The FAA reports that it was reinstated to the now-38-year-old pilot on February 25, and his instructor certificate was re-issued on February 26.

According to other pilots for Piedmont, the airline operating as the regional carrier for US Airways for the flight, Draper reportedly had a habit of flying low over his house on approach to Salisbury. Pilots at the airline called it the "Draper One Arrival," and he reportedly only did the stunt with less senior pilots on board. First Officer Christopher Quillen said that Draper normally flew over the house at about 1,500 feet, but the FAA reports that on December 21, 2012 the plane was as low as 493 feet before he pulled up and prepared for landing. The speed of the airplane at the time was recorded at 281 miles per hour.

(Image from file. Not incident airplane)

FMI: www.faa.gov