A South Carolina pilot has been charged with aggravated breach of the peace after he allegedly made three low passes over a beach on Pawley’s Island in Georgetown County. William Roger Williamson III, 50, of Florence, South Carolina, was arrested, jailed, and then released on a $5,000 bond on May 19 for the April 10 incident. A video posted to social media shows a red and white tailwheel aircraft enter a descending turn over the water toward the beach resulting in a low-altitude, high-speed pass over some beachgoers. “He turned and he just sort of zeroed in on us like he was dive bombing, and just started straight for us, so close,” one of the members of that group on the beach said in an interview with WMBF News. “We sort of dove out of our beach chairs, because we literally thought he was going to crash into the beach.” The TV station did not identify her.
After receiving complaints from the people on the beach, the station said the FAA contacted Williamson, who reportedly claimed carb ice caused his drop in altitude and the knob fell off his carb heat control, resulting in the low pass. The feds didn’t buy his story, particularly since the witnesses reported two other low passes, and gave him 30 days to respond to the allegations. When he didn’t respond to the FAA, local authorities got involved and he was arrested. No date has been released for his next court appearance.
“A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill.”
— Frank Borman
Nail him
Agree. Pilots need to take seriously their impact on people they fly over (or near in this case).
I once read some advice written by an old, bold pilot. If you are going to do a buzz job, do it once and do it fast. Don’t give people time to read the tail number or get out their cameras.
It’s 2026 and almost everyone on the beach is carrying a hi-res video camera in their pocket.
Just don’t do it. It’s dangerous and idiotic and it impacts all of us.
Three passes? That’s not poor impulse control, that’s determination. I wouldn’t want to be a passenger in this clown’s car.
Carb ice???? Folks on the beach are in swim suits and sandals – dumb excuse. I think he should have stuck with the other one he used – his knob fell off! Maybe he can convince the authorities it was medical emergency.
It appears he was thinking with that knob …
To be fair, the temperature in the carb is much colder than the OAT due to the pressure drop. So carb icing is quite possible when it’s pleasant beach weather – especially if it’s humid.
None of that explains or excuses 3 low passes…
One would think you’d climb and get away from the ground if you’re going to be fumbling around in the cockpit for a knob.
I hope this guy gets jail time and public shaming. It’s people like him who could ruin GA forever.
I imagine he will rightly lose his license. And good riddance.
“reportedly claimed carb ice caused his drop in altitude and the knob fell off his carb heat control, “
So that explains why he also did an almost 180 degree turn as well…right? Right?
And two more passes. He must have worked quick to get that knob back on for it to fall off….two more times.
So I am with the chorus, yank his license, jail if possible, but a good fine as well.
Good decision making is weak with this one.
There was a time when barnstormers were appreciated and even admired, but alas, aviation has come of age and with so many high profile crashes recently, the public is getting scared. Low flying aircraft no longer bear the novelty of a UFO encounter. If the Wright brothers had done the same in their day, thousands of people would have gathered on the beach to watch and his stunts would have been renowned and revered like Kitty Hawk or Lindbergh. People have seen the Blue Angels, Indy 500, monster trucks, moon landings, UPS and Air India fiery crashes and Jeremy McGrath back flip a motorcycle on a dirt mound. So there’s not much that a young guy can do these days to get attention and feel like he has done something remarkable.
If he wants to fly parallel to the beach and no closer than 500ft from the crowd, barnstorm away. Over the crowd? Nope
Actually I think it’s a thousand feet over populated areas.
Over the water parallel to a beach probably is not a populated area. Populated area is like a city or suburb. Or in one case mentioned here near a beach and highway. But i doubt over the water 500 feet from anyone would trigger the 1000 foot minimum. Unless you are this dumb and piss off enough people that the FAA wants to make an example of you.
https://www.faa.gov/media/13061
Jeremy McGrath did the nac-nac and won more SX races than anyone in history. I don’t think he ever was known for a back flip.
The most credible incident report ever!
Williamson turned himself in at the Georgetown County Detention Center, according to the release.
Williamson was booked at 7:30 a.m. and released shortly before 12:30 p.m. on $5,000 bond, according to online jail records.
The obvious lack of awareness and judgement regarding the very severe legal consequences that are inherent with this maneuver over the public deserves permanent revocation of any and all of this pilot’s certificates! Good grief