Helicopter pilot cited after landing in Grand Teton National Park

[Ptah]

Pilot and companion found picnicking on lake shore

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK - A helicopter pilot from Colorado was cited after he landed an aircraft inside Grand Teton National Park and was found picnicking with a companion.

Park officials said in a press release issued Monday the incident happened on June 24 at about 3 p.m. when park law enforcement received a report that a helicopter had illegally landed at Moran Bay on the west shore of Jackson Lake, inside Grand Teton National Park.

Rangers responded by boat across Jackson Lake and found the helicopter and pilot Peter Smith, of Gunnison, Colo., and a companion picnicking along the lake.

Smith, the owner of West Elk Air in Gunnison, was charged with two violations under the Code of Federal Regulations: “Operating or using aircraft on lands or waters other than at locations designated pursuant to special regulations,” and “Use of aircraft shall be in accordance with regulations of the FAA.” Each violation is a Class B misdemeanor that could include up to a $5,000 fine and six months in jail.

https://www.ktvq.com/news/crime-watch/helicopter-pilot-cited-after-landing-in-grand-teton-national-park

[Effete Snob]

1. "and a companion"

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/07/10/colorado-man-cited-for-illegally-landing-helicopter-in-grand-teton-natl-park-but-did-not-have-a-picnic/

“We had a sick passenger and there was bad weather in the Tetons so we couldn’t cross the Tetons,” Smith told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.

Smith said he checked his maps before landing but the boundaries were unclear.

“We did not know we were in the park,” he said. “When you look down you see 10 motorboats circling around with water skiers, you don’t assume it’s a national park.”

Only two lakes in Grand Teton National Park allow motorized boats, Jackson and Jenny Lakes.

Smith wouldn’t discuss what he was doing in the area.

He did say he was annoyed at media reports stating that he and his passenger were having a picnic.

He was looking for her Tetons.

“All of these articles are coming up saying we had a picnic — there was no picnic,” he said.

“There was no enjoyment going on. We just landed there for 10 minutes before the U.S. Forest Service showed up. They gave us our ticket and then we were out,” he said.

My "I'm not having a picnic with my companion" t-shirt is raising a lot of questions.

[2naSalit]

2. Except GTNP is in Wyoming, quite a ways south of the Montana border.

Just more idiot/assholes in the park.

[Ptah]

3. I put it here because it is from Great Falls TV.

[2naSalit]

6. We have regional news around here...

But I guess that works.

Local is a big area that covers several state boundaries in some places, the places around the two parks is like that.

[marble falls]

4. Did he have enough time to get down on his knee and giver her the ring?

[Layzeebeaver]

5. LARP Airwolf

just saying...

[mn9driver]

7. Everybody who flies in that area knows better.

It’s easy and obvious. Stay east of the Snake River until you’re south of Moose Junction. And if you’re that far south you had better be talking to Jackson approach or tower.

This guy is FOS.

[Harker]

8. Moran Bay.

That's one carefully selected picnic site.