Precautionary landing, or picnic?

[Let'sgoflying!]

Pilot charged for illegal Grand Teton National Park landing blames bad weather

A helicopter pilot faces up to $10,000 in fines and a year in jail for making an illegal lakeside landing in Grand Teton National Park. Peter Smith, owner of air tour company West Elk Air, landed June 24 on the western shore of Jackson Lake, the National Park Service said in a statement Monday...

currently.att.yahoo.com

 

[deyoung]

Seems sketchy. He wouldn't describe the weather conditions at the time, and (my sense from the article) he was generally not forthcoming. The weather at the time seems like something one could look up to get a better idea whether his story makes sense or not. "[Park rangers] arrived to find Smith and a female companion having a picnic, according to the Park Service." Not a good look in any case...

 

[Racerx]

Probably a picnic...but what did he actually bust FAA wise? Not seeing anything for the area like there is for the Grand Canyon.

"He is now charged with potentially more serious violations: flying outside designated by regulations and violating FAA regulations, each of which is a misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine and six months in jail."