ADIZ claims its first victims
So the ridiculous band-aid defense zone that does nothing but inhibit law abiding citizens has taken two lives.
Pilot Entered Restricted Airspace Before Crash:
ODENTON, Md. (AP) - The pilot of a small plane that crashed near Fort Meade last week was told by an air traffic controller shortly before the accident that he was flying in restricted air space, a recording of air traffic control transmissions shows.
"You are violating the (Air Defense Identification Zone). You need to land at Tipton immediately, and I'll have them give you a phone number for air defense," the unidentified air traffic controller said, according to a recording posted at LiveATC, which provides live and archived air traffic control traffic.
Daniel L. Eberhardt, 57, of Downers Grove, Ill., and a friend, Bobbi Getz, 56, of Pittsburgh, died in the crash. The two were in a Piper Malibu PA46 owned by Eberhardt that crashed shortly after takeoff Thursday at Tipton Airport near Fort Meade. Family members said Eberhardt was piloting the plane.
David Muzio, the National Transportation Safety Board inspector in charge of the investigation, said the pilot spoke to air-traffic controllers moments before the crash but did not broadcast a distress call. Muzio, who said he was waiting to listen to official Federal Aviation Administration recordings, told The (Annapolis) Capital said the plane appeared to be returning to the airport when it hit the tree, sheering branches at a 40-degree angle.
The ADIZ restricted air space extends about 40 miles from Washington, D.C. General aviation pilots are allowed to fly in the zone, but must first obtain clearance.
"It kind of sheds a different light to it (the crash)," said Stan Sypien, Eberhardt's son-in-law. "Our thought was that it was something mechanical, as far as the fast turnaround."
Eberhardt's brother, Tom Eberhardt, said his brother strayed into the zone once before and paid a fine.
An initial investigation has not found any obvious problems with the engine or the airplane, Muzio has said.