Local News in Brief : Pilot Faces Charges
A pilot who belly-landed his plane at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima earlier this month was charged Tuesday with flying under the influence of alcohol. James Lee McCoy, 46, of Sylmar also was charged in Van Nuys Municipal Court with careless and reckless flying, flying too low and illegal possession of a loaded pistol and marijuana.
McCoy, a self-employed makeup artist, was arrested Sept. 7 after witnesses saw him make several irregular passes over the airport and finally land with the plane’s wheels retracted. He is free on $1,000 bail pending arraignment Oct. 22.
Los Angeles City Atty. James Hahn said McCoy’s blood-alcohol content was 0.08% when it was tested five hours after the crash. Under federal aviation regulations, a pilot with a blood-alcohol level of 0.04% is considered to be under the influence of alcohol.
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