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Low Level Buzzing

JBunn

JBunn

New member
Hidden Lake, New Port Richey, FL
Aircraft Year
1973
Aircraft Type
112 Hot Shot
Reg Number
N112DG
Serial Number
105
:mad: I think Alaska is exempt form this rule....

Pilot loses license after buzzing Texas beach

06/24/2010

By SARAH PORTLOCK / Associated Press


Federal officials have revoked the pilot's license of a man who buzzed a crowd on a Galveston County beach, flying a single-engine plane as low as 15 feet about the ground and snagging a fishing line.

Joseph Bryan Kirbow flew so low during the March incident that the plane snagged a man's line and broke his fishing pole, while wind from the plane blew another man's hat off, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday.

Planes must fly at least 1,000 feet in the air except during take off or landing, FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said.

Kirbow surrendered his airman certificate "immediately" after receiving the FAA's June 16 revocation letter and can't apply for a new license for at least a year, Lunsford said.

Phone numbers were not listed for Kirbow's home address in Beaumont nor his company where the plane was registered, Kirbow Transportation Enterprises, in Nederland, Texas.

During the flight, one of Kirbow's two passengers asked if they would be in trouble for flying so low, according to the FAA investigation. Kirbow said he had "buzzed the beach many times" and "would not get in trouble for it."

One witness, Terry Rodery of Santa Fe, told investigators he thought the plane was going to crash until he saw the pilot smile and buzz the group at least twice.
 
Re: Low Level Buzzing

I suppose this guy could apply to the FAA for a new N number for his airplane while he is grounded for the next year (or more)... ID10T ;)

I have personally seen all too much of this type of unsafe flying by showoffs. Three years ago, we were flying R/C model planes at a designated R/C model airfield which is adjacent to Joe Pool lake in the DFW metroplex. A guy with a red & white Pitts Special did a knife edge flight over our model runway at about 20 feet off the ground. He had a female passenger who looked terrified looking out the top of the canopy... so close to us that we could see her facial expression. The guy cleared the mesquite treeline at the north of the field by about 5 feet. Some spectators thought it was funny or neat... many of us thought the guy should be arrested! The only thing that "saved" the guy from being turned into the FAA, was the fact that we could not read his N number since he was knife-edged to us. :mad:
 
Re: Low Level Buzzing

Buzzing caribou is actually encouraged in Alaska!
 

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Re: Low Level Buzzing

Plonien said:
I suppose this guy could apply to the FAA for a new N number for his airplane while he is grounded for the next year (or more)... ID10T ;)

I have personally seen all too much of this type of unsafe flying by showoffs. Three years ago, we were flying R/C model planes at a designated R/C model airfield which is adjacent to Joe Pool lake in the DFW metroplex. A guy with a red & white Pitts Special did a knife edge flight over our model runway at about 20 feet off the ground. He had a female passenger who looked terrified looking out the top of the canopy... so close to us that we could see her facial expression. The guy cleared the mesquite treeline at the north of the field by about 5 feet. Some spectators thought it was funny or neat... many of us thought the guy should be arrested! The only thing that "saved" the guy from being turned into the FAA, was the fact that we could not read his N number since he was knife-edged to us. :mad:
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Jeez Jack,
Lighten up. You need a smoke kit, man!! In my neighborhood, if you fly over 500' AGL you are classified a fricken astronaut!!!:D:eek:
 

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Re: Low Level Buzzing

I just wish the FAA spokesman could get the facts straight. It's not 1000 ft AGL across the board - 91.119.c states (as most of us know) 500 ft away from a person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
 
Re: Low Level Buzzing

I saw videos of this guy on Youtube... he was waaaaay too low. About 20' over a crowded beach in the one I saw.

Not cool!

(and no smoke, either!)
 
Re: Low Level Buzzing

JBunn said:
... flying a single-engine plane as low as 15 feet about the ground and snagging a fishing line.
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I've never seen a 15 foot fishing pole. That damned fisherman must have been trying to hook himself an airplane! Probably cast right into the flight path. What was he thinking, that he could take it home and grill it?!

:D

(Okay, seriously, that's too frickin' low. I'd have to guess that not even Miesch would fly low enough near a group of people on the beach such that someone's fishing line would get caught up on the airplane. Over water, away from pedestrians, would be an entirely different risk picture.)

(More: I just looked at the videos. In the second one you can hear someone say, "Let's throw a rock at it". If you pause the third one you can just barely read the tail number.)
 
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Re: Low Level Buzzing

Special thanks also to the jerk that did it this winter in a war bird. We had the FAA scope up our butt wanting all the paperwork on when and where we will fly the experimental T-6.

Dates times etc. It would sure be nice for once if the people causing the trouble were the only ones to suffer.
 
Re: Low Level Buzzing

FS said:
I've never seen a 15 foot fishing pole.



Never been beach fishing Frank? Need that length of pole to cast past the surf line.

Serously though, the guy was an idiot. But what was worse, the low flying airplane or a bunch of yahoos in thier Jeeps tearing up and down the sand? I don't approve of either activity. I wouldn't want to be quietly fishing or relaxing on the beach when along comes the Texas Jeep Cowboys.

My apologies in advance for the above remark to most Texans whom I hold in high esteem.
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Re: Low Level Buzzing

C'mon Frank, the fixed gear is the reason he looks so low! Fold up the gear and ya got another 3' of clearance!!! Fugedaboutit!!:p

Ian, I believe you just insulted the hell out of Greg Walker(JEEP COWBOY EXTRAORDINAIRE!!!):D
 
Re: Low Level Buzzing

Gary, that's why I apologized in advance, knew I would pi** off someone.:D

Seriously though, I have good friends in Texas who Jeep responsibly, off road in some great trails, rock paths and mud holes. I am not a fan of Jeeps on a beach although it is a common sight on Crystal Beach. That beach was completely devastated by Hurricane Rita in 2005, vegitation torn up, sand pushed back acroos the highway and camps ripped away. It used to be about 500 yards distance from the sea to the highway but is now is less than 20 yards in places. It will need about 10 years to recover. Probably not the best place to go 4 wheelin'. The sea grass needs to re-establish itself to provide a natural sand barrier to help replenishment and allow the creatures nesting ground and habitat. Won't happen if its being driven over constantly.

So in this case we had a Jeep club bringing a multitude of jeeps on to a damaged and fragile beach with boom boxes at full voice compaining about a yahoo doing low passes in his Diamond. Hard to say who I think is the biggest idiot. I vote for all of the above.

By the way, I heard the pilot was a member of the Jeep club and did this regularly when he was not there with his Jeep.You think he might have got sideways with some of the members of the club for them to report him?:eek:

Careful who you are buzzing, even your friends are likely to turn you in.
 
Re: Low Level Buzzing

I've stood in that very spot and watched some fat boys land. What a rush.
 
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