From http://www.msnbc.com/local/WPBF/A1493778.asp?cp1=1
Student Pilot Makes Alleged Drunken Landing
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., 4:25 p.m. EST February 13, 2003 - A student pilot is accused of making a drunken landing Wednesday at Palm Beach International Airport.
Officials say the pilot, 54-year-old Mark Davis, landed without permission and without contacting the control tower.
Radar detected the Cessna plane well before it landed on the main runway. But control tower operators never received radio contact from the pilot. Experts say that should have occurred at least 10 miles from the airport.
Federal Aviation Administration officials say operators made backup communication attempts to reach the pilot but all of them failed.
As the Cessna approached, no commercial airlines were scheduled to take off. Control tower operators diverted all other planes until the Cessna landed. At that point, airport security called on sheriff's deputies to help.
"When the airport security people approached the aircraft they determined that there was something strange about the pilot's behavior," said Paul Miller of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. "There was reason to believe the individual had possibly been using alcohol," said sheriff's Sgt. R. Beaver. "It's a lot more dangerous than a DUI on the roadway."
Davis took the same field sobriety tests given to people suspected of driving under the influence. Sheriff's officials say he failed. Davis then refused to take a breath and urine test.
Davis, who celebrated a birthday Wednesday, spent the night in jail.
While officials don't think Davis created a security breach, they do believe he violated several safety regulations.
"The FAA's been advised that this is a very serious breach in the sense that we have someone intoxicated and did fly in and land on the main runway," said Miller. The plane belongs to American Flyers flight school. The owners of the school would not comment on the incident.
Student Pilot Makes Alleged Drunken Landing
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., 4:25 p.m. EST February 13, 2003 - A student pilot is accused of making a drunken landing Wednesday at Palm Beach International Airport.
Officials say the pilot, 54-year-old Mark Davis, landed without permission and without contacting the control tower.
Radar detected the Cessna plane well before it landed on the main runway. But control tower operators never received radio contact from the pilot. Experts say that should have occurred at least 10 miles from the airport.
Federal Aviation Administration officials say operators made backup communication attempts to reach the pilot but all of them failed.
As the Cessna approached, no commercial airlines were scheduled to take off. Control tower operators diverted all other planes until the Cessna landed. At that point, airport security called on sheriff's deputies to help.
"When the airport security people approached the aircraft they determined that there was something strange about the pilot's behavior," said Paul Miller of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. "There was reason to believe the individual had possibly been using alcohol," said sheriff's Sgt. R. Beaver. "It's a lot more dangerous than a DUI on the roadway."
Davis took the same field sobriety tests given to people suspected of driving under the influence. Sheriff's officials say he failed. Davis then refused to take a breath and urine test.
Davis, who celebrated a birthday Wednesday, spent the night in jail.
While officials don't think Davis created a security breach, they do believe he violated several safety regulations.
"The FAA's been advised that this is a very serious breach in the sense that we have someone intoxicated and did fly in and land on the main runway," said Miller. The plane belongs to American Flyers flight school. The owners of the school would not comment on the incident.
