Aerial Egging

[uwochris]

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0111airborne-egging11-ON.html


2 teens on low-flying plane allegedly egg school
HARRISBURG, Pa. - A low-flying airplane so startled residents of Gettysburg in the pre-dawn hours last June that the top two floors of a six-story hotel were evacuated and borough police tried to signal the plane using flashlights.

Two teenagers face a court hearing this week on charges they flew a two-seat Piper Cub airplane belonging to one of the boys' father so they could drop eggs on their high school. Adams County prosecutor Brian Sinnett called the apparent prank "one of the most bizarre cases that I've been involved in."

"You hate to think what might have happened - even unintentionally," Sinnett said.

The boys were arrested Friday on charges of causing or risking a catastrophe, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and conspiracy. Sinnett said one is 15 years old, and the other 15 or 16. Their names were not released.

They also were charged with taking a Christmas wreath from Gettysburg High School last month. The investigation into the stolen wreath, Sinnett said, helped authorities link the boys to the June 15 aerial egging. A juvenile court hearing was scheduled for Thursday.

Police and aviation officials were mystified when the single-engine plane circled Gettysburg's tiny downtown in foggy conditions at low altitude, then disappeared. Poor visibility and darkness prevented them from reading the tail number.

About two dozen people were evacuated from the top floors of the Gettysburg Hotel as a precaution.

Fire trucks and police cars were stationed at the local airport, but Sinnett said the plane apparently landed at a private airstrip belonging to the father of the boy who was at the controls. He does not have a pilot's license, Sinnett said.

Sinnett said the boys dropped at least one bucket of eggs on the roof of the high school, hours before the start of the final day of class before summer vacation.

"To the best of my knowledge, it wasn't even reported at the time," Sinnett said. "I don't know that (school officials) necessarily saw it at first."

Sinnett said the boys confided in others about the incident.

They appeared without lawyers at a detention hearing on Monday, Sinnett said. Because they are juveniles, Sinnett was unwilling to identify them.

 

[jergar999]

Bowling balls on frozen lakes are more fun and attract less attention.

 

[airspeed]

This is one of the most hilarious things I have heard. It also makes me sick that the DA charged them with conspiracy, making a catasrophe, give me a friggin brake! What is this craphole country coming too? Next someone who urinates in public will be charged with causing a catastrophe and on and on. When are these lawmakers gonna wake up???

 

[apcooper]

Maybe they were charged with risking a catastrohphy simply because they didn't have a pilot certificate. If it had been a certified pilot they wouldn't have been charged with risking a catastrophy. I don't really know forsure though.

 

[fastandlow]

The wreath theft should have been a dead give away!!! Why did they not see this coming?! First stealing Christmas wreaths, then committing a despicable act of domestic terrorism!!! I bet it all goes back to the parents... not involved in their kids lives enough. Not looking for the signs. AND teaching this CHILD to fly an AIRPLANE!! Why weren't the keys to that Cub secured, and the doors locked?!

Seriously though, you gotta be a little more sneaky if you're gonna do this kind of thing. Like not circling. and not using a cute little yellow high-wing slow flying airplane with a big black lightening bolt on the side.... They're are a few around, but not hard to track down. And I really doubt the kids bragged to their buddies - that'll get you every time.

Glad I grew up when you could get away with doing stupid things without having felony charges brought against yourself and your parents, ruining everyones lives for the sake of some 2 bit DA's career!

 

[PropsForward]

Glad I grew up when you could get away with doing stupid things without having felony charges brought against yourself and your parents, ruining everyones lives for the sake of some 2 bit DA's career!

Many you said it. If we were caught doing half the stupid crap we did as teens we would still be awaiting our parole date...

 

[TrafficInSight]

hmmm, I think "stealing" an airplane and flying it with a passenger, without a license, in darkness and fog while buzzing a town certainly counts as more than just mischief... the eggs don't even factor into it.

 

[fastandlow]

hmmm, I think "stealing" an airplane and flying it with a passenger, without a license, in darkness and fog while buzzing a town certainly counts as more than just mischief... the eggs don't even factor into it.

Maybe the kid determined that there was no hazard (as 91.15 allows) with dropping the eggs! Too bad he didn't see 91.13 careless and reckless though. But, it's quite legal to THROW things out of a plane!!

...and you never did anything stupid as a kid!? and I bet calculate a weight and balance for each pt. 91 local solo flight too. Am I right?

 

[TrafficInSight]

Sure I did, but none of it was covered by federal regulations

 

[Publishers]

Of all the endless amount of Federal Regulations, did you know that hardly any deal with being stupid. Nevertheless, being stupid often results in breaking one of the endless amount of Regulations.

On the other hand, let's look at the facts. The young man with no license successfully took off, found the target with weather at minimums, and returned to base. Like most pilots, he boasted about his skills to his friends or anyone else he met. This pretty much meets the standard of all military flying and hence he should get a license and be immediately drafted in the United States military.

Oh yes, he took the aircraft without permission, this may make him a candidate for the CIA air operations division.

 

[FN FAL]

Spare the rod, spoil the child.

 

[414Flyer]

I met a pilot once who used to drop ping pong balls on golf courses for fun

 

[LearLove]

In 1967 or 68 my father got in trouble for buzzing his highschool (Souderton, PA) in a PA-28. The FAA made him write a letter of apoligy to the school. He went on to AFROTC then to the air force and ANG as a pilot then the airlines. Guess those were different times.

 

[YeOldeProp]

Aaaaah...who do we blame, considering we probably learned about hooliganism from those who went before us? How many of us sat around having a beer and listening to those old farts' stories after all the flying, refueling, washing and stuff was done? Most of them were heavy on the "bovine scatology"...but all worth a laugh and another beer.

Best one I remember was the 50-some year old guy who used to play "aerial cop" and cruise along the local country highway. He'd see a lone car out there and drop down next to it and put a blue flashing light up against the window and motion to the driver to pull over. Used to have a lot of laughs until one day he passed a local trooper working a speed trap. He rushed back to the airpatch and got the plane in the hanger just before the trooper came speeding up to the little local airport. After a few minutes of explaining about the "engine trouble" and the need to put it down on some form of asphalt, etc...the trooper drove off just happy he didn't have to write up an accident report on it all.

Just goes along with the quote that talks about "experience being something you gain just after your complete ignorance displays itself". Fly safe...