FLOUR BOMBING CAUSES COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN ARIZONA

If it's "legal" under the FARs, does that mean you can do it? An Arizona

flight instructor is learning a tough lesson that the state may prohibit

what the feds don't. The instructor and a passenger allegedly dropped "flour

bombs" on some buddies engaged in paintball combat in the Tonto National

Forest. But nearby residents saw the white powder and thought terrorists

were dropping anthrax into a nearby reservoir. While FAR 91.15 doesn't

prohibit dropping something from an aircraft, "if reasonable precautions are

taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property," local laws do.

According to AOPA Chief Counsel John Yodice, federal regulations do not

preempt local law when it comes to reckless flying or flying while impaired.

The Arizona pilot and passenger are facing multiple misdemeanor counts for

the stunt. And the pilot is under FAA investigation.