Upstart pilot lands on US beach

Su Campu

How much do you hate this pilot? He sounds one cocky [censored], I hope they throw the book at him.

Here's the audio
http://www.avweb.com/other/piper-32nd_beachlanding_LiveATC-net.mp3

[FONT=arial,helvetica,geneva]NYPD, FAA Investigating New York Beach Landing[/FONT]



According to New York news outlets, a Piper Cherokee landed on Rockaway Beach Monday evening after the pilot claimed to have "teensy weensy" roughness in his engine. The landing prompted an immediate response by NYPD air and ground units who reported that the three people aboard were not injured. However, a recording of the event captured by LiveATC.net reveals that the pilot asked if he could land on the beach, and when a JFK controller said he could not, the pilot shortly reported both a sick passenger and the rough engine. You can hear the recording here (MP3). The aircraft had taken off from Farmingdale on Long Island, but its destination was unknown. According to NBC News, the landing occurred at Beach 56th St. and Shorefront Parkway.

The route is commonly flown by traffic transiting the New York area from Long Island and across New York Bay to the New Jersey shore. Aircraft typically fly the shoreline over Rockaway south of Kennedy Airport, whose tower provides traffic advisories. The FAA's New York FSDO is investigating the incident, according to FAA spokesman Jim Peters. The aircraft was impounded by the NYPD and the FAA plans to examine it for any evidence of mechanical anomalies. One news picture revealed that it was up to its wheel pants and saltwater.

The pilot was identified by New York area news outlets as James Maloney, 24. The two passengers were Clark Oler, 22, and Chelsea Protter, 21. The FAA says it appears that Maloney is a relatively recently certificated pilot. His currency and experience aren't known.

MicK10rt

Makes ya wonder if they if they give pilots licenses to anyone these days

MicK10rt

This fool deserves everything he gets. A good display of poor airmanship.[/QUOTE]

Jammyc

Sounds like a total arsehole alright.

Sterling Archer

What a muppet, throw the book at him, right at his face, and put him on the no fly list too, ah that would be very deserving.

Edit- i was actually going to change this and say something nicer but just found this

An NYPD spokesman said that Maloney told an investigating detective, "What's the big deal? It happens all the time in Alaska."

According to the spokesman, the detective replied, "Welcome to New York.

another video http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8429929/Plane-makes-emergency-landing-on-New-York-beach.html

mayotom

Shane_ef wrote: »

What a muppet, throw the book at him, right at his face, and put him on the no fly list too, ah that would be very deserving.

Edit- i was actually going to change this and say something nicer but just found this

another video http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8429929/Plane-makes-emergency-landing-on-New-York-beach.html

What an idiot!!!

Su Campu

The Telegraph were being very kind to him in that article, treating it as a real emergency. Hopefully the people that count will take that "Rogaaaaaaaaaaaa" attitude from him. Apparently he was copying the Flying Wild Alaska series from Discovery Channel. :rolleyes:

The plane is owned by a company called - wait for it - Plane Nonsense Inc, in Delaware. :rolleyes:

[FONT=arial,helvetica,geneva]Beach Landing Inspired By TV: Report[/FONT]



The 24-year-old pilot who landed a Piper Warrior with two passengers onboard on Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY Monday reportedly told police he got the idea from Discovery Channel's reality TV series Flying Wild Alaska. The show depicts the flying exploits of commercial pilots in Alaska where beach landings are relatively more common than they are in New York. Jason Maloney, 24, of Cornwall, NY, hasn't been charged with anything yet but the FAA is likely to have something to say about his decision to set the Warrior down on the famous beach despite an air traffic controller's suggestion that he not. Click here to listen to the ATC tape. In addition to the FAA, NYPD, Port Authority and likely several other organizations, Maloney will have some explaining to do with the plane's owner and insurer.


The tide was out when he landed. At high tide the plane was up to its wings in salt water, which, at a minimum, will likely result in a thorough cleaning and inspection before it's airworthy. Maloney announced his intention to land on the beach because an alleged "teensy teensy" roughness in the engine and a sick passenger but the unconventional nature of his reports to ATC might play a role in the FAA investigation. There were no injuries.

http://gothamist.com/2011/04/06/pilot_said_he_landed_on_queens_beac.php

donkey balls

What a class 1 knob extremly poor airmanship and as for his RT f**king shocking and to think that he is an EMT-P:eek:

Manic Moran

What a muppet, throw the book at him, right at his face, and put him on the no fly list too, ah that would be very deserving

In fairness, what regulation, exactly, did he violate in terms of airmanship?* I need to go look at the FARs, but as best I can recall, there is nothing in a PPL cert which says "Authorised to land at designated airstrips only".

The decision was obviously pretty damned stupid, as unlike 'planes flown by bush pilots, New York Warriors tend not to be well equipped or designed for random beach landings or take-offs (But even at that, there's precedent, witness Copalis State Airport in Washington (S19) and this C-172 landing there. (Although granted, someone in the FAA likely certified the type of sand))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DgIuPK87ZE

and you can question the risk to people on the beach when he landed, which would be an FAR violation if there were any.

But if he's flying under VFR and not within controlled airspace, then he's entitled to ignore the controller if he wants and land wherever he judges he can. It may be monumentally stupid, but not necessarily illegal.

Further, if he did not actually request an ambulance or declare an emergency, he may not be liable for the response that New York Fire Department provided.

If anything, his mistake was in talking to the tower to begin with.

I doubt anyone will ever rent to this guy again, but that's a different issue.

*OK, found one. Part 91.13:
No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

My emphasis. If the beach was empty, and if it was his own airplane, alone, he'd be fine. It's someone else's property, so he would be done under this one. Possibly also because he had a passenger.

NTM

searescue

Manic Moran wrote: »

In fairness, what regulation, exactly, did he violate in terms of airmanship?* I need to go look at the FARs, but as best I can recall, there is nothing in a PPL cert which says "Authorised to land at designated airstrips only".

The decision was obviously pretty damned stupid, as unlike 'planes flown by bush pilots, New York Warriors tend not to be well equipped or designed for random beach landings or take-offs (But even at that, there's precedent, witness Copalis State Airport in Washington (S19) and this C-172 landing there. (Although granted, someone in the FAA likely certified the type of sand))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DgIuPK87ZE

and you can question the risk to people on the beach when he landed, which would be an FAR violation if there were any.

But if he's flying under VFR and not within controlled airspace, then he's entitled to ignore the controller if he wants and land wherever he judges he can. It may be monumentally stupid, but not necessarily illegal.

Further, if he did not actually request an ambulance or declare an emergency, he may not be liable for the response that New York Fire Department provided.

If anything, his mistake was in talking to the tower to begin with.

I doubt anyone will ever rent to this guy again, but that's a different issue.

*OK, found one. Part 91.13:
No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

My emphasis. If the beach was empty, and if it was his own airplane, alone, he'd be fine. It's someone else's property, so he would be done under this one. Possibly also because he had a passenger.

NTM

Hi There,

If you land at a location other than airstrip/airport, you need prior permission from the land owner before doing so - this is the law in Ireland anyway but I'm open to correction on US law.

Now if he declared an emergency (haven't listened to audio yet) he may get away with it.

Manic Moran

I believe rockaway beach is public land.

NTM

Sterling Archer

I think they might be fairly severe on him because of the man killed last year by a plane making an emergency landing on a beach

pclancy

I've often had beaches as my only option for a forced landing when flying down coastlines, often there are mountains right up to the coast so you've got nowhere else to go. I'd certainly choose a beach over ditching.

In this case it appers there wasnt a genuine emergency so he's obviously made a bad judgement but its totally up to the commander of an aircraft where to put it down if he decides the situation is bad enough.

Bearcat

was the situation bad enough or was he being just a grade one bell end landing on rockaway? know the place well....landing 4R JFK, you pass right over it at about 4 miles out I think.

jmayo

Su Campu wrote: »

The Telegraph were being very kind to him in that article, treating it as a real emergency. Hopefully the people that count will take that "Rogaaaaaaaaaaaa" attitude from him. Apparently he was copying the Flying Wild Alaska series from Discovery Channel. :rolleyes:

The plane is owned by a company called - wait for it - Plane Nonsense Inc, in Delaware. :rolleyes:
...

As Manic Moran quiet rightly points out, hadn't he spotted most bush planes are rather different machines to his low wing trike.

Also the stuff bush pilots have to do is often not legal according to FAA regs,
but they have to make a living and the environment they operate in means somethings have to be done that people in other parts of the world would not consider.

Anyway this guys strong suit does not appear to be thinking things through. :rolleyes:

This guy just seemed to want to try something he saw on TV and he spoofed an excuse in order to try it.
The fact that he is not even a good spoofer will probably be what gets him the kick in the ar**.

Wasn't there a case in Ireland 10 odd years ago where young guy flew helicopter one late evening quiet close to Dubliin airport en route to Castleknock and then even switched off his lights and emergency beacon when challenged ?

Sadly aviation attacts people with lots of money, but little brains.

pclancy wrote: »

I've often had beaches as my only option for a forced landing when flying down coastlines, often there are mountains right up to the coast so you've got nowhere else to go. I'd certainly choose a beach over ditching.

Where were you flying ?

Have you ever flown out of Queesntown or Milford Sound ?
There is great beach north of Milford sound with nothing but rainforest around it.

pclancy

Yeah i've flown out of Queenstown but went the other way towards Alexandra-Dunedin-Ashburton and up the east coast back to Wellington. Gorgeous scenery. I've never personally landed on a beach as i'm still a student and will be forever probably. Some club members often go over to the Marlborough sounds and land on a beach on Durville Island. Totally remote and peacefull with the whole place to yourself. Until a dirty C185 roars over the hill belching fumes and lands on the beach with a bunch of German backpackers Those things have mad engines.

IrishB.ie

pclancy wrote: »

a bunch of German backpackers Those things have mad engines.

So have the C185's

jmayo

pclancy wrote: »

Yeah i've flown out of Queenstown but went the other way towards Alexandra-Dunedin-Ashburton and up the east coast back to Wellington. Gorgeous scenery. I've never personally landed on a beach as i'm still a student and will be forever probably. Some club members often go over to the Marlborough sounds and land on a beach on Durville Island. Totally remote and peacefull with the whole place to yourself. Until a dirty C185 roars over the hill belching fumes and lands on the beach with a bunch of German backpackers Those things have mad engines.

Queenstown towards Glenorchy, Wanaka, Te Anau, Milford etc is unbelievable scenery.

Call me a philistine, but beaches were made for landing flying machines and driving on, not to lounge around admiring the peace and quiet.
Note I never said anything about Germans and backpackers.