Teen flies over football game, drops ball - Aircraft of World War II

Aggie08 · 11-09-2007, 03:00 PM

Teen flies over football game, drops ball : Corpus Christi National | Caller-Times |
Teen flies over football game, drops ball
Prank turns into series of misdemeanors
Associated Press
Originally published 08:00 a.m., November 9, 2007
Updated 08:00 a.m., November 9, 2007

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A teenager flew a small airplane low over a high school football game and dropped a football into the end zone as a prank, said authorities who are now charging him with misdemeanors.

Brian Morris, 17, was in court Thursday to face two charges: dangerous flying and dropping objects at a sporting event.

"These are very uncommon. They are not normal charges," Huntersville police spokesman Capt. Michael Kee.

The football dropped last Friday was signed by Hopewell High School faculty and students, and school officials are investigating how many people knew about Morris' plans.

Morris was flying low enough that some spectators could see the tail numbers on the rented single-engine Cessna 172, police said. Two passengers won't be charged, police said.

"He was below the level of the stadium lights, so that was quite a shock to people who were there," Kee said. "It's certainly up to the judge, but the seriousness of what he did, it potentially could have been a bad situation."

Officials at the school north of Charlotte suspended Morris on Monday, but it was unclear what his status was Thursday. School district officials said they couldn't discuss his or any student's files.

A court clerk didn't know whether Morris had an attorney. A woman at a home believed to be Morris' declined to comment to the Charlotte Observer on Monday.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said the agency may suspend or revoke Morris' pilot's certificate following an investigation. The FAA requires an altitude of at least 1,000 feet when flying over a large crowd.

Kaleb Combs, a junior at Hopewell High School and Morris' friend, told the Observer that many students knew in advance what Morris planned and that students collected $700 at the game in case he needed bail money.

A pretty good prank, if questionable in its safety. Great call collecting the bail money ahead of time!

evangilder · 11-09-2007, 06:32 PM

That was just DUMB. It could have ended in disaster and I think revoking the license of the idiot pilot is proper.

Screaming Eagle · 11-09-2007, 11:21 PM

I agree eric. he could have lost control of that plane and like you said it could have ended in disaster.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 11-10-2007, 09:48 AM

Im with Eric on this. Though just a prank it was taken too far.

FLYBOYJ · 11-10-2007, 01:11 PM

Agree folks - I see at least 3 violations there...

11-09-2007, 03:00 PM	#1
Aggie08 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,013	Teen flies over football game, drops ball Teen flies over football game, drops ball : Corpus Christi National \| Caller-Times \| Teen flies over football game, drops ball Prank turns into series of misdemeanors Associated Press Originally published 08:00 a.m., November 9, 2007 Updated 08:00 a.m., November 9, 2007 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A teenager flew a small airplane low over a high school football game and dropped a football into the end zone as a prank, said authorities who are now charging him with misdemeanors. Brian Morris, 17, was in court Thursday to face two charges: dangerous flying and dropping objects at a sporting event. "These are very uncommon. They are not normal charges," Huntersville police spokesman Capt. Michael Kee. The football dropped last Friday was signed by Hopewell High School faculty and students, and school officials are investigating how many people knew about Morris' plans. Morris was flying low enough that some spectators could see the tail numbers on the rented single-engine Cessna 172, police said. Two passengers won't be charged, police said. "He was below the level of the stadium lights, so that was quite a shock to people who were there," Kee said. "It's certainly up to the judge, but the seriousness of what he did, it potentially could have been a bad situation." Officials at the school north of Charlotte suspended Morris on Monday, but it was unclear what his status was Thursday. School district officials said they couldn't discuss his or any student's files. A court clerk didn't know whether Morris had an attorney. A woman at a home believed to be Morris' declined to comment to the Charlotte Observer on Monday. A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said the agency may suspend or revoke Morris' pilot's certificate following an investigation. The FAA requires an altitude of at least 1,000 feet when flying over a large crowd. Kaleb Combs, a junior at Hopewell High School and Morris' friend, told the Observer that many students knew in advance what Morris planned and that students collected $700 at the game in case he needed bail money. A pretty good prank, if questionable in its safety. Great call collecting the bail money ahead of time! __________________ "I had ten rockets on board, and as I wasn't particularly fond of head-on attacks, I salvoed the whole lot at him. The rockets didn't hit him but but they must have scared the bejesus out of him, for he did a steep turn to starboard... I let him have the full blast, all eight fifty-calibers. I had never seen an aircraft completely disintegrate in the air the way this Me-110 did..." Bill Dunn, 406th Fighter Group Matt

11-09-2007, 06:32 PM	#2
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,809	That was just DUMB. It could have ended in disaster and I think revoking the license of the idiot pilot is proper. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

11-09-2007, 11:21 PM	#3
Screaming Eagle Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 3,553	I agree eric. he could have lost control of that plane and like you said it could have ended in disaster. __________________ "Success is nothing more than taking advantage of an opportunity." - Hitman! - The Technical Guide for the Independent Contractor.

11-10-2007, 09:48 AM	#4
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 33,152	Im with Eric on this. Though just a prank it was taken too far. __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"[/I]

11-10-2007, 01:11 PM	#5
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,051	Agree folks - I see at least 3 violations there... __________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"

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