Municipality Stretches its Might Over Township Airspace

A town in Ohio jailed a commercial pilot recently, following up on a Springfield Township arrest warrant for a 2019 overflight of a YSU home football game. 

Christopher Wilkinson was booked into the local Mahoning County Jail on charges of "inducing panic and disorderly conduct" incurred when he flew a Cessna near the press box and Stambaugh stadium lights in full view of the audience. His ultimate stay in jail was likely worsened by his failure to appear in court for a trial on his charges last November. Before that he'd been given a misdemeanor charge of unsafe operation of an aircraft. Wilkinson's attorney said his client didn't appear because their co-counsel withdrew from the case, being in uncharted legal waters. Generally the FAA or similarly high-powered government bodies handle the enforcement side of aviation - it's not often a municipal court takes an airman to task, after all. 

Youngstown Municipal prosecutors say Wilkinson flew well below 1,000 feet AGL, while his lawyer said such prosecution should really be left to the FAA. Youngstown Municipal Judge Carla Baldwin disagreed, saying that the town indeed had jurisdiction over its own airspace. The commercial, multi-engine pilot was booked into jail this weekend, though the duration remains unspecified. 

FMI: www.youngstownohio.gov