Beachgoers Buzzed Again; Another Low-Flying Plane Surfs IB's South Waves

A couple of Sundays ago on Aug. 19 around 6 p.m., beachgoers on San Diego County's southernmost beach were startled when  buzzed the surf, far below the FAA's 1,000-foot altitude requirement.

According to FAR Title 14, Section 91.119 of the General Operating and Flight Rules, federal law specifically prohibits low-flying aircraft and requires minimum safe altitudes, except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

(a.) Anywhere - An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

(b.) Over congested areas - Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft. 

(c.) Over other than congested areas - An altitude of 500 feet above the surface except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In that case, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. 

Under the law, it appears that the unidentified pilot would have an arguable defense, if the one-man single-engine taildragger was 500 feet over beachgoer's heads. However, from the video and photo it appears this fixed-winged surfer buzzed carefree beachgoers at less than 100 feet!

"I saw it coming directly at me so I ran for [the] rocks!", exclaimed a frightened  youngster who was digging a hole to China, directly in the path of the low and fast approaching aircraft. 

"I thought it was going to crash ON ME!  I don't want to be on the beach anymore, I want to go home now," she said while the plane maneuvered over the Tijuana River for a third low-flying buzz over the little girl's head.

The plane's first pass, south of the pier, was a mere 80 or 90 feet off the ground, the next couple of passes were around 200 feet, but no more than that, according to eye witnesses.

According to their website, "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the government agency responsible for aviation safety. We welcome information from citizens that will enable us to take corrective measures including legal enforcement action against individuals violating Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). It is FAA policy to investigate citizen complaints of low-flying aircraft operated in violation of the FAR, and that might endanger persons or property."

So far there have been no official news reports about the incident. James McNamara, FAA Safety Inspector at the San Diego FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) said Tuesday that no complaints about Sunday's low-fly had been filed, but that an investigation would begin by checking the IB Lifeguard's log book, local airport flight logs and cell phone videos that were posted on YouTube.

Imperial Beach Lifeguard Sgt. Jason Lindquist did not return a call seeking comment before this blog post was published.

I love flying small planes! So far in my life, there has been nothing more exhilarating than the first time I took control of the old green Grumman American AA-1A Trainer, whose picture I posted to this article and is still exhilarating new pilots and training them how to fly.

Located at nearby Brown Field Municipal Airport, First Flight Corporation is less than 15 mins from Imperial Beach and has a great offer of $49 for your first lesson! You can even take friends with you for $20 per person. 

WARNING: Flying a plane is both addictive and expensive!

With just one more lesson to go before obtaining a solo pilot's license, unfortunately, I was grounded when the economy got bushwhacked by AIG's reckless insuring of mortgage backed securities with far more than $411 billion in credit default swaps. What a mess that still is! Anyway...

Every student pilot is taught that safety is THE #1 concern, at all times. While buzzing the surf may be exhilarating, it is absolutely not safe for the pilot, or beachgoers. Even experienced pilots know that 'stuff happens', and that a safe place to land should always be a consideration, especially during slow or low flight.

New pilots quickly learn that crosswinds and a sudden change of temperature can cause a plane to lose altitude suddenly, and that coastlines have both of those conditions!

Using beachgoers as the only place to land is not safe, it's actually closer to reckless endangerment. And, according to the little girl who was forced to abandon her dig to China, "It was rude!"

What do you think about low-flying fixed-winged surfers?

Would you complain if you were buzzed on the beach by a low-flying plane?

Have you seen a plane buzz Imperial Beach in the past? Got Pics or Stories? Post'em!