Suffolk County Man Wants FAA Investigation After Near Miss With Falling Clipboard
SHIRLEY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Suffolk County man is demanding that the Federal Aviation Administration investigate a bizarre incident that took place in the skies above Long Island.
Shirley resident Gus Binos claims that he had a brush with death when a sharp piece of metal landed a few feet away from the spot where he was washing his SUV.
"All of a sudden it sounded like a gunshot went off. I turned my head and looked and saw this sitting on my driveway," he told CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan.
Binos took a closer look and discovered an aviation clipboard filled with military documents, flight patterns, and navigation guidelines.
"It probably fell like a Frisbee, on an angle, spinning, instead of falling like this. That would have killed somebody. It 20 feet from me," he said.
Aviation experts explained that pilots often fly with the clipboards strapped to their legs to allow for "hands-free operation," but said that certain circumstances could result in a clipboard being lost in mid-air.
"Having it sit on the instrumental panel for some reason, and opening a window, would cause a draft. It would be possible to have something go out," said Thomas Daly, Dean of Dowling College's School of Aviation.
FAA officials told CBS 2 that if a plane part had come loose and fallen from the sky a pilot would be required to file an official report, but reporting the loss of personal items is not mandatory.
Binos said he hopes the issue will be resolved.
"I have a 14-month-old daughter. If I was out here with the stroller, forget it," he said. "This needs to be addressed."
The FAA told CBS 2 that the incident is under investigation.
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