Intoxicated Pilot Told Not to Take Off Crashes at Melbourne Airport

News13 ^ | Thursday, May 28, 2015 | Jerry Hume, Greg Pallone and John W. Davis

[nickcarraway]

A pilot arrested Wednesday after crashing into a piece of equipment at Melbourne International Airport faces charges of operating an airplane while intoxicated and endangering his passenger, his young son.

Christopher John Hall never made it off the ground Wednesday, thanks in part to air traffic controllers who noticed something was wrong well before the plane could take off.

Hall, 57, walked out of the Brevard County Jail after posting a $4,000 bond Thursday morning. He said very little as he was rushed to his car.

Airport police arrested Hall on charges of reckless operation of an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol, as well as child abuse, because his preteen son was with him on his two-engine Cessna Skymaster.

Investigators said Hall and his son were preparing to fly Wednesday afternoon, but according to air traffic recordings, Hall wasn't listening to instructions.

"OK, 32 Mike, where are you going, sir?" the air traffic control tower asked Hall, referring to his plane's registeration number. "Skymaster 32 Mike, is everything all right, sir? I didn't tell you to move."

Eventually, the air traffic controller became concerned, noting Hall's speech was slurred when he responded. "Skymaster 32 Mike, I haven't given you any instructions of any kind, sir. Hold your position," the controller said. "Refile your IFR flight plan, and call me when you're ready for it and ready to taxi."

Finally, the controller told Hall to kill his engines. Hall's plane ended up clipping a communications equipment building at the northwest corner of the airport, near a fence. Neither Hall, nor his son were injured.

Airport police said Hall refused to take a breath test, but noted his breath smelled of alcohol.

An airport official said air traffic was not shut down Wednesday, since the incident did not take place on a main runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration was called in to investigate the incident.

The Cessna was listed as registered to Hall's home address under a company name Wireless Systems Engineering Inc., expiring in 2018.

[SkyDancer]

What’s expiring in 2018? The plane? His company? Not his license (airman certificate) - they don’t expire.

[bgill]

The wife admitted in other reports he had a habit of flying drunk. Neither parent is fit to raise that child.

[Mount Athos]

cessna registration

[Squantos]

Love those old 337’s !!

[SkyDancer]

As my uncle calls them: The Lead Sled. One engine fails the remaining one will get you to the scene of the accident.

[SkyDancer]

Okay, yeah, maybe for the state. Here in WA we have to register them once a year; I guess in FL it's longer.

This is all I can find on aircraft registration in FL.

Pilot License & Aircraft Registration – Florida Florida has no requirement for the licensing or registration of pilots or aircraft with any entity in the state. However, Chapter 329, Florida Statutes, Aircraft: Title; Registration; Liens, among other specific, detailed provisions, makes it is unlawful for any person in this state to knowingly have in his or her possession an aircraft that is not registered in accordance with regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), contained in 14 CFR, Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), Part 47, Aircraft Registration and Part 49, Recording of Aircraft Titles and Security Documents. Florida Tax Liability: If you bring an aircraft into Florida that you have owned for more than six months, you should not have to pay a fee. However, a sales tax is required on the transfer of aircraft ownership within Florida. For additional information, please see the Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR) website Sales Tax and Use Tax on Aircraft Owners and Purchasers or contact Mr. Bo Parmer with the FDOR Aircraft Section, 850-922-2662, or see Section 212.06(8), Florida Statutes or Chapter 12A-1.007(2), Florida Administrative Code

So I still don't know what registration is to expire in 2018.

[B4Ranch]

Date:	27-MAY-2015
Time:	16:30
Type:	Cessna 337F Super Skymaster
Owner/operator:	Wireless Systems Engineering Inc
Registration:	N1732M
C/n / msn:	33701332
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Airplane damage:	Unknown
Location:	Melbourne International Airport (KMLB), Melbourne, FL -   United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Melbourne Int'l (KMLB)
Destination airport:

Narrative:
The aircraft experienced a runway overrun and subsequent impact with airport structures at Melbourne International Airport (KMLB), Melbourne, Florida. The airplane sustained unreported damage and the two related occupants onboard were not injured. The pilot onboard the aircraft has been detained by local law enforcement agencies.

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=176449

[B4Ranch]

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N1732M.html

[dfwgator]

He needs to spend a long, long time in the slammer.

[SkyDancer]

And again: I still don't know what registration is to expire in 2018.

A/C registration is permanent until or unless the owner applies for a new one, usually because they have a number/letter combo they want to use to replace what's on the A/C by the previous owner.

[nickcarraway]

His registration with Alcoholics Anonymous?

[SkyDancer]

Dunno - but trying to figure out what is expiring in 2018 like why mention it? But then again, MSM. Why try to figure it out?

[RichInOC]

“...and it was at that moment that I realized my life had become completely unmanageable.”

[Mount Athos]

FAA registration is good for 3 years
https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/reregistration/

[SkyDancer]

New rule in 2010 - guess they want to keep track of where planes are these days. Tnx.

[Squantos]

Just gotta feather the proper prop .....hint....not the one still running.....:o)

Lead Sled, Suck and Puff, Push an Pull....all good nicknames !

Hope yer well !

[SkyDancer]

Ya, thanks for that. LOL’s - some people think it’s a twin engine, it’s just a push me pull me inline ....doesn’t qualify for a twin endorsement.

[archy]

Love those old 337’s !!

I kind of like the French-built ones too. One of my first A&P school projects was a rebuild of a non-retract 336.

[archy]

Lead Sled, Suck and Puff, Push an Pull....all good nicknames !

You left out Mixmaster and Lynx.

[Squantos]

Damn ...... I need a 100 hour Archy on my 172 !!!