AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 63

a group obstruction symbol. Fleming, a
former flight test engineer who began flying gliders at Bermuda High 10 years ago,
was familiar with the post-9/11 notam that
advises pilots to avoid flying near facilities
such as power plants “to the extent practicable,” but he thought nothing of a single
pass over the Robinson facility on the west
side of the lake as he headed toward where
he thought there would be lift at the lake.
At Hartsville Regional Airport, Wendy
Griffin was monitoring the unicom. Griffin
said the people at the power plant sometimes call her if they see an aircraft flying
nearby to ask her who’s flying and why the
aircraft is there. (One time, she said, she got
a call about a helicopter lingering in the area
and found out from the pilots that they were
working for the power plant.) Sometimes
she calls the pilots on the frequency to find
out their intentions, but when the plant
called her, she saw that it was a glider and
didn’t think much of it. “I said, I really don’t
think it’s a threat. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
Someone did worry about it. A little
before 5 p.m., Griffin said, a couple of police
cars rolled up. When the officers came in,
she said she’d try to reach the aircraft on
the radio.
Fleming was switching between the
Bermuda High frequency and Hartsville
unicom to monitor local traffic. He later
recalled that during one switch to Hartsville,
he heard the end of a transmission mentioning a glider over the nuclear plant. He
responded that he was circling and moving
away from the plant. He found a thermal, he
said, and began climbing.
Fleming recalls that at some point someone requested he land at Hartsville, but then
he was told he could continue. He climbed
to 3,100 feet msl, circling to the northeast
away from the lake, and planned to head
back to Bermuda High Soaring—but he
lost lift and descended to 1,900 feet. He

THE H.B. ROBINSON Nuclear Generating

Station in South Carolina (left). Attorney
John Hodge (below left).

turned back toward Hartsville again, found
a thermal, and climbed to 2,740 feet. But he
received another radio transmission from
Hartsville, telling him to land.
At the airport, Griffin said the officers on
the scene told her to demand the glider land
at Hartsville, although an FAA official on the
phone said the FAA was not demanding he
land. So, she said, she gave Fleming a choice:
“Police officers here are asking you to land,
but the FAA says you do not have to land.
I’m leaving this up to you.” Fleming said to
tell the officers he’d be there in a minute.
Fleming’s and Griffin’s accounts are
consistent with the Darlington County
Sheriff Department’s incident report. Capt.
Joyce C. Everett wrote that the suspect was
“advised” to land at Hartsville, and that he
had advised he was going to land elsewhere
because he didn’t want to have his airplane
towed. When he was again instructed to
land in Hartsville, Everett wrote, he did. In
a supplementary report, Sgt. Christopher J.
Pittman wrote, “It is unclear as to exactly
how that radio conversation went, but the
pilot initially stated that he intended to land
at Bermuda High landing strip.... After it was
made clear that law enforcement expected
him to land in Hartsville the pilot stated that
he would comply.”
The arrest report, however, painted a
different picture: “The defendant had to be
ordered several times to land the aircraft
by law enforcement before he complied,” it
said. Griffin strongly contests this version
of events: “I was the only one on the unicom with him,” she said. “I never demanded
him to land.”

Officers approached the glider when it
rolled to a stop at 5:11 p.m. and requested
Fleming’s identification and pilot certificate; searched his pockets; subjected him
to a pat-down; and took his wallet, cellphone, glasses, and sunglasses, according
to Fleming. He said his request to call
Bermuda High was denied. He was told he
should consider himself under arrest.
“Haven’t you heard about 9/11?—that’s
what they said to me,” Fleming said.
SOARING, BY ITS nature, is a social sport:
Unless you’re flying a motorglider, you’ll
need someone to tow you and someone you
know you can call if you have to land out—
at another airport, or off-airport. So people
were looking out for Fleming at Bermuda
High Soaring, a glider club and commercial operation where Fleming instructs on
the weekends.
As the other pilots returned, Jayne
Ewing Reid, co-owner and chief tow pilot,
was worried. No one had heard radio calls
from Fleming. She called pilots who lived
in all directions from the field, asking them
to try to reach Fleming on their handheld radios. No response. She even took
the Pawnee and headed in the direction
of Fleming’s last known radio call—Anson
County, North Carolina—searching without
success. “This is when you get that feeling
that something’s not right,” she said. Ewing
Reid and business partner Frank Reid filed
a missing airplane report around 6:30 p.m.
That evening, Ewing Reid sent an email
to the pilots she had asked to call Fleming on
their handhelds: “9:02 p.m.—Robin’s plane
is reported to be at Hartsville Airport.” She
said the FAA had called to say the glider was
there, but still no word from Fleming.
Finally Reid called Hartsville Regional
Airport and got the surprising news. “Robin
is OK!!” Ewing Reid updated the pilots at
9:17 p.m. “He is in jail. No, I’m not kidding.”
www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 63


http://www.aopa.org/pilot

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2013
Contents
President’s Position
Visual Approach
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Sun Power
Debonair Sweepstakes
People
Test Pilot
GA at Work
Mentor Matters
First in Class
Tale of Three Decades
No-Spin Twin
Shaking Things Up
Breach of Peace
Time in Type
At Home in the Kingdom
Ownership
Proficiency
Technique
Wx Watch
Avionics
Dogfight
Never Again
Membership
State & Local Action
Member Products
AOPA Foundation
Air Safety Institute
AOPA Insurance Services
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2013
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Visual Approach
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Sun Power
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Debonair Sweepstakes
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - People
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Test Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - GA at Work
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - No-Spin Twin
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Shaking Things Up
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Breach of Peace
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Time in Type
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - At Home in the Kingdom
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Ownership
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Proficiency
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Technique
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Wx Watch
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Avionics
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Dogfight
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Membership
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - State & Local Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Member Products
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - AOPA Foundation
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Air Safety Institute
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - AOPA Insurance Services
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com