Pilot 'Cooperated' With Officials

The pilot of a single-engine Piper had some explaining to do to officials Monday, after the plane strayed into the P-40 restricted area overlying the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.

The Associated Press reports the incident occurred about 12:00 pm local time, based on reports from Secret Service agents. Interestingly, those accounts differ from the FAA's take on the incident, which they say happened about an hour after that.

Regardless of the timing, the unidentified pilot reportedly strayed two-and-a-half miles into P-40. The plane was flying from Panama City, FL.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the pilot cooperated with officials, but would not elaborate. The pilot could face federal charges, as well as revocation of his pilot certificate.

P-40 is a circle around Camp David three nautical miles in radius and 12,500 feet high. When the president is in residence, P-40 expands to 10 nautical miles because a no-fly zone follows the president, and FAA regulations make it illegal to fly over or near the president.

President Bush was not at Camp David when the incident occurred... but he was there Sunday night, hosting the ruler of Dubai. Bush departed from Camp David early Monday morning, heading to Asia for a weeklong trip. It's unclear at this time whether the expanded P-40 was still in effect at the time of the reported incursion.

FMI: www.faa.gov