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Skipper was charged with third-degree felony operation of aircraft while intoxicated or in a careless or reckless manner.

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FORT MYERS - Charlotte County Sheriff's Office arrested a Fort Myers pilot Monday on a warrant stemming from a July 20 incident of low flying.

Jeffery Ward Skipper, 48, allegedly flew a small single-engine Cessna-172 dangerously low over Port Charlotte, North Port, El Jobean and East Englewood. Witnesses told police the pilot was doing flips over homes sometimes only about 50 feet off the ground nearly hitting tree tops and one caller said the plane nearly hit his vehicle.

CCSO Aviation Deputy Mark Brownie said Skipper's former girlfriend saw the aircraft, reported the tail number, and said it was flying so low that she recognized Skipper in the plane. The Lee County Airport Authority Police reported the plane landed at 6:53 p.m. and notified the FAA. The warrant stated a control tower operator greeted Skipper as he exited the plane and he "smelled of alcohol."

LCAA Police said they contacted the owner of the aircraft who is Skipper's stepfather who said he did not have permission to fly his aircraft. Skipper was charged with third-degree felony operation of aircraft while intoxicated or in a careless or reckless manner.

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NOTANYMORE
12-10-09 6:02 PM »Report Comment Abuse	I hope he has what's coming to him. It is bad enough driving on the roads with people under the influence, now we need to worry about flying. Very scary stuff.
NOTANYMORE
10-28-09 6:16 PM »Report Comment Abuse	It's about time they caught up with him. I hope he loses his pilots license. He could have killed someone!

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