so an airplane crashed in my yard today.

[brantmacga]

i took pictures w/ my phone but its on the fritz right now so i can't upload them at the moment.


but a two seater ultra-light crashed in my yard today.


the more i think about this the more upset i get.

#1; if i'm not mistaken, ultra-lights cannot fly over houses.

he was flying over the barn behind my house this morning when the engine went out.

then he crashes into a pecan tree out front.

#2; the pilot is bleeding badly.

he says don't worry about it, because its the blood thinner he takes for his "heart condition".

my question is, why are you flying over my house, and why are you flying with a heart condition?

his passenger was a newly licensed pilot. he was very adamant about not calling 911, but we called anyway so they could be checked out.


there are several ultra-lights based at our local airport. my house is in the flight pattern of an old runway that is supposed to be closed. the ultra-lights use this runway primarily and are always flying over my house. i've said nothing until now, but that could've been my roof he crashed into. that could've been my son's room.

the plane is still sitting there. i had to leave for work and didn't get a lot of details as to what they're waiting on to move it. I assume the regional FAA rep is coming to investigate?

Should i contact the airpot authority about them overflying my house or call the FAA?

I can't remember exactly where i read the rules for non-licensed ultra-light aircraft. does anyone have a link? My patience for this has completely evaporated. Am I incorrect in thinking they're not allowed to fly over houses?

[Mictheslik]

I'm not sure about America, but in the UK I'm pretty certain ultralights are allowed to fly over houses....otherwise the approach to the majority of airports would be impossible.....

Having just read the FAA guidance it seems that ultralights are prohibited from operating over 'congested areas'

103.15 Operations over congested areas.

No person may operate an ultralight vehicle over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons.

The whole document is Here

If you've really had enough your best bet would be to talk to your local airport if you're on the approach that only ultralights use and ask them to adjust their paths.....however also bear in mind that the chances of an accident are very very slim, and noone's deliberately trying to fly into your house...they're all just having some fun in the air....

.mic

P.S...Having looked at Quitman, GA on google maps it's not a huge place and probably doesn't even fall into the congested areas rule....there's plenty of open and green space both within the town and outside. As a result I would assume the areas under the approach of the disused grass runway certainly doesn't qualify....

[brantmacga]

what about the fact they're using a closed rwy?


i realize they're trying to have fun; but we have hundreds of empty acres for them to fly over, yet they choose to constantly buzz around our houses.

ultra lights are the most annoying aircraft in the sky. sounds like a bunch of weedeaters zipping around.

[brantmacga]

[olderndirt]

We have a similar situation here in rural Washington where they operate from a couple of private strips.

[Fozzer]

what about the fact they're using a closed rwy?


i realize they're trying to have fun; but we have hundreds of empty acres for them to fly over, yet they choose to constantly buzz around our houses.

ultra lights are the most annoying aircraft in the sky. sounds like a bunch of weedeaters zipping around.

...the most annoying Aircraft in the sky for us, are Helicopters....

...which insist in hovering above us, at illegal altitudes, rattling the precious Bone China in our Cupboards...

We go out into our gardens and make "Go Away" signs at them!... ... ...!

At least Ultralights appear and disappear reasonably quickly!... ...!

Paul...Its lovely and peaceful outside at the moment... 8-)...!

P.S. ...I've got a funny feeling that they are not too pleased that you 'Phoned 911... ...!

[brantmacga]

P.S. ...I've got a funny feeling that they are not too pleased that you 'Phoned 911... ...!

No, they certainly didn't want anyone to call.

But it was for their own safety. Sometimes people who were just in a traumatic accident aren't thinking very clearly.

That motorized gnat is still sitting out there.


I was thinking it would be funny if I chain it to the front-end loader on my back hoe and move it somewhere else in the yard.

Or hell I could just hook it up and take it back down to the airport and drop it off in front of their hanger. I'll put a sign on it that says "please don't litter".

[skoker]

I had a plane crash in my park,  It got hit by lightning.

[Craig.]

I wouldn't touch it mate.
Insurance, crash investigators will both be interested in seeing it. If these guys were flying illegally you'd be tampering with evidence. It's a pain, but better an eyesore than having to explain why you've moved it.

[Steve M]

Where I live they don't do much investigating of home built aircraft or ultra lites that have crashed. The powers that be, just write them off to pilot error or mechanical error. The home built in my avatar crashed within a block of me, obviously the pilot did not survive. The only investigating done was by the coroner and local police. 7 hours later the wreckage was all cleaned up and gone.  

[beaky]

They can fly over houses or other structures, just not over "congested" areas (the stuff marked in yellow on aeronautical charts).
They also don't need even a 3rd class medical to operate ultralights.

However: they are not supposed to be less than 500 feet (in any direction, including up) from any structure except for takeoff and landing... and they're expected to use some common sense. ::)

Guys like this give ultralights- and pilots in general- a bad name.  >:(

[tcco94]

[quote]I had a plane crash in my park,

[The Ruptured Duck]

You don't need a medical to fly LSA or below.

You'll never catch me in one.

[EJW]

Damn! I hope you weren't climbing that tree when it hit! Only yesterday my Dad was talking about all the aircraft crashes he'd been to (he is a retired fireman).

Great story.

[EJW]

Ebay the wreckage???