Low-flying plane over school gets student in trouble

DERRY, N.H. --Some Pinkerton Academy students watching their classmate pilot the low-flying plane over the school thought it was a stunt or a practical joke.

But police and the Federal Aviation Administration didn't think it was funny, and now the youth, a senior, could face a reckless conduct charge.

Police were called to the campus Tuesday morning. They were told the small plane was circling the campus at an altitude of 250 to 300 feet.

The FAA, which has a 1,000-foot requirement, tracked the plane back to an airport in Lawrence, Mass. They questioned and released the student, whose name wasn't released. School officials also plan to meet with the student and his parents.

Meanwhile, the student's father claims his son was flying at 1,000 feet and was given clearance to do so. He said air-traffic control tapes from the FAA tower in Manchester would prove it.

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Information from: WMUR-TV, http://www.thewmurchannel.com/index.html