FAA: Teen broke rules with late-night plane flight
JASPER, Ala. (AP) — Federal authorities said Thursday a student pilot wasn't following regulations when he took off with two friends on a late-night flight New Year's Day that crashed in north Alabama and killed everyone aboard.
Federal Aviation Administration records show that the pilot, 17-year-old Jordan Ryan Smith of Jasper, received a student pilot certificate in February 2012. The FAA pointed to regulations that say "a student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying a passenger."
FAA regulations also require a pilot to have a multi-engine rating to fly a twin-engine plane like the Piper PA 30 that crashed shortly after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in a swampy, wooded area about a mile south of the Walker County Airport.
Smith's mother, Sherrie Smith, said Wednesday he was one test away from having his pilot's license. She said she talked to him by cell phone about 10 p.m. Tuesday and he said he would be in by his 11:30 p.m. curfew. She said she knew he was out with friends, but did not know they had gone to the airport.
Also killed in the crash were 17-year-old Jordan Seth Montgomery and 19-year-old Brandon Tyler Ary, both of Arley.
None of the victims owned the plane. Authorities have not released the name of the owner.
Airport manager Edwin Banks said the plane departed from the small airport about 10:30 p.m. in overcast skies and a low cloud ceiling. "It was a student pilot flying an airplane without permission, an airplane that he was not qualified to fly at night," Banks said Wednesday.
Sherrie Smith said Wednesday her son knew the owner and had a key to the plane, as well as the access code to the electronic gate providing access to the plane parking area.
Chief Deputy Sheriff James Painter said Thursday that officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were gathering pieces of the wreckage for their investigation and there was no determination yet on the cause of the crash.
Federal Aviation Administration records show that the pilot, 17-year-old Jordan Ryan Smith of Jasper, received a student pilot certificate in February 2012. The FAA pointed to regulations that say "a student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying a passenger."
FAA regulations also require a pilot to have a multi-engine rating to fly a twin-engine plane like the Piper PA 30 that crashed shortly after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in a swampy, wooded area about a mile south of the Walker County Airport.
Smith's mother, Sherrie Smith, said Wednesday he was one test away from having his pilot's license. She said she talked to him by cell phone about 10 p.m. Tuesday and he said he would be in by his 11:30 p.m. curfew. She said she knew he was out with friends, but did not know they had gone to the airport.
Also killed in the crash were 17-year-old Jordan Seth Montgomery and 19-year-old Brandon Tyler Ary, both of Arley.
None of the victims owned the plane. Authorities have not released the name of the owner.
Airport manager Edwin Banks said the plane departed from the small airport about 10:30 p.m. in overcast skies and a low cloud ceiling. "It was a student pilot flying an airplane without permission, an airplane that he was not qualified to fly at night," Banks said Wednesday.
Sherrie Smith said Wednesday her son knew the owner and had a key to the plane, as well as the access code to the electronic gate providing access to the plane parking area.
Chief Deputy Sheriff James Painter said Thursday that officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were gathering pieces of the wreckage for their investigation and there was no determination yet on the cause of the crash.
Wow. Kids killing kids. What a sad story for all the families involved. Even though he made a big mistake, I bet your son is very sorry and it was probably the last thing he was thinking before they hit the ground. RIP
His mother must be in hell right now. Very very sad situation. The perfect storm of poor teen judgment and his folks have to live with it the rest of their lives.
Sure would be nice to know just how many hours the student pilot had, and in what type of aircraft. A PA-30 Comanche is a complex aircraft, multi-engine, with retractable gear. MOST pilots struggle to fly safely in a simple Cessna-150. Even 10 years ago, it required a Private Pilot Certificate to get an endorsement for a multi-engine...he was not a private pilot, so could have lost his right to EVER get a pilots license by carrying passengers, plus not qualified to fly at night, plus taking off into low ceilings and 'bad weather'. He violated nearly every rule that they teach in ground school. With that attitude, I cannot imagine why the owner gave him a key...unless he was allowed to 'clean' the airplane, and just went ahead and took it for a joyride. Too bad the owner won't make a comment. I'll be interested in reading the final FAA report on this one.
I need to get a job at the FAA. Teen broke rules. DO YOU THINK!!!!
i dont trust a 17yo behind the wheel of a car
Not only did he kill every one aboard, he could have killed people on the ground, well he is dead, his freinds are dead, what a selfish way to go.. He is answering for his stupidity in Hades.
 @lee986321 Maybe he is there because his flight irked Zeus, or maybe this kids dad is Daedalus?
 @lee986321 The only thing that killed them was inexperience. If he had landed safely this would be a non-issue. Selfish? Absolutely.
 @axpman  @lee986321 >'If he had landed safely this would be a non-issue. '
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While I'd agree that it probably wouldn't have made the news, it's hardly a 'non-issue'. He would have still been in violation of FAR pt 103, and could have been fined and arrested.Â
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You can legally pilot an aircraft without a license only in very specific circumstances:
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1) As a student undergoing "dual instruction", you must have a certified flight instructor with you.Â
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2) For solo flight, with no one else aboard, if under the supervision of a certified flight instructor and your logbook contains an endorsement specifying time and conditions under which you may fly solo.
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3) During an in-flight emergency when the licensed pilot becomes incapacitated.Â
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4) An unlicensed person may manipulate the controls of an aircraft in flight if accompanied by an appropriately licensed pilot who deems it to be safe, and it is not a flight conducted for the purposes of generating revenue.
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Unfortuntately for 3 young mens families, the colliison of bad judgement and opportunity in this case was fatal instead of just criminal.Â
Oh wow! I'm sure that knowing he wasn't supposed to do what he did sure held him back from doing it! With no one obeying or enforcing laws anymore is it any wonder that people do what they want, when they want, without fear of consequences?Â
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"Wasn't following the rules"....... Yeah, and the crash killing them didnt help any either !
My husband is private pilot and takes the responsibility of having other lives in his hands very seriously.It is so unfortunate that something like this happens, the the young man wasn't thinking of the consequences of his actions and others paid for his lack of judgement. Flying a plane is not a joy ride, it is a privilege. I am so sorry for the loss these families have suffered due to a young man's inexperience
Sorry to hear of the tragedy. Condolences to all families involve.
It just goes to show that rules and regulations are in effect for a reason. Will be interesting to find out why he had a key to an airplane he was not allowed to legally fly.
The gate code on most airports is known to those that work around or use small airports.
This may not be good for the owner of the airplane...
 @Just Lookin >'Will be interesting to find out why he had a key...'
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"Sherrie Smith said Wednesday her son knew the owner and had a key to the plane, as well as the access code to the electronic gate providing access to the plane parking area."
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Someone who either owns or leases a PA-30 undoubtedly is pretty well off financially. My guess is that the families of the other two boys will end up filing civil lawsuits against the owner (leasee) of the plane for that very reason. Legally, there is a liability issue. Â
 @Just Lookin Yes and it also goes to show you how rules and regulations can be worthless and won't stop bad things from happening when people are willing to break them.
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Not matter how many laws we put in place on planes, cars, guns, alcohol, etc... bad things will happen by people who don't care that they are breaking societies rules.
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So people....wake up and stop voting in clowns who want to limit your freedoms in the name of protecting everyone from the actions of 0.0001% of the population that are going to do it anyway rules or not.