Warbird Information Exchange

Hey , where are all of the people that were sying that this whole thing was just the EAA security being idiots? I had someone very close to me killed by a drunk driver. I love Patty, but I sure don't feel bad for whatever she gets. Do I expect more form her? Yes. Is it because she is a pilot, or because she is famous? You bet. You should know better. But we aren't talking about having a few beers and getting pulled over for speeding and the officer just happens to smell beer. We are tlaking about someone that drove on an airport runway. And someone that should know better. To be honest I think many are going easy on her because of who she is. Maybe it is just me. Because of what happened to me in the past, and what I see at my job, I look at drunk drivers different. Has anyone else here had to go to a crash scene in the middle of the night and see a family getting cut from their car with their parent dead because a drunk driver crossed a double yellow and hit them head on? Meanwhile the drunk has some minor cuts and is sitting on the side of the road singing.I have no tolerance for drunk drivers. Shame on them.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Mustang, you seem to be taking it for granted or as proven fact that Patty was a "drunk driver". That has not been judged yet, only charges and allegations.
And it is the "resisting arrest" part , with a big fine and jail sentence that I would have most doubts about.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

A DUI is not the bad part, the possibility of losing ones pilot licence for this infraction is the bad part, ref: FAR 61.15, for an alcohol related motor vehicle infraction.

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If God had wanted man to fly behind a flat motor, Pratt Whitney would've built one.

I got the chance to meet and visit with Patty for quite a while at an airshow at James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas several weeks ago.

I enjoyed my short time with her. And it was obvious she was just an awesome lady who just loves airplanes and loves to fly. I hope this matter gets resolved quickly so she put it behind her and get back to concentrating fully on her flying.

One that happened here a few months back:
Off duty, drunk cop leaves a bar, hets in his Hummer & backs over 2 people in the parking lot.
Jumps out of his vehicle into his "GF's" car & they both haul ass outta there.
Guy he hit has minor injuries, but the women in the parking lot had the Hummer back over her, & then again when he pulled forward..collapsed lungs, multiple fractured ribs etc..
Other cops arrive along with ambulance etc. They find his LASD id on the center console. They go to his house to arrest him for felony hit & run, DUI & whatever else they can charge him with...

Then it turns out the girl he left with wasn't his gf, she wasn't there that night...

Then his WIFE finds out what happened....

& then (& this is the killer...)




The woman he ran over TWICE is the local DA's mother...

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

And you know, my friend told me that he heard from somebody that she stole a big-rig and ran over a tent in a camping area that had boy scouts in it. That's bad because you can kill somebody if you run over a tent with a big rig. A lot of people I know have had loved ones killed by big rigs...

What a stupid joke of a thread...

Before you attack me, think of two things...

A- I probably couldn't care less what you think.

B- Google "Duke Lacrosse case" before further commenting on Patty Wagstaff.

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Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

As much as Rich is not interested in the point of view of someone that has to deal with drunk drivers at least once a week, I will say this Bill. There are some VERY reliable sources that asked not to be identified that were there and saw everything first hand. I know this person and would have a very hard time saying that he was wrong, or making it up, as what he saw troubled this person very much.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

richkolasa said

And before you attack me, think of one thing....I couldn't care less what you think.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Mustang, if your friend that does not want to be identified has real eyewitness evidence, not second hand or not biased; then it should be presented in or to the court. If not it is only hearsay, may be true, may be false, or very likely someone's view with some grey area.
Another WIX member is a friend of Patty's and just a strongly believes her version of the story.

Most of us would think dangerous drunk driving is very serious, I don't have to deal with it as a rescuer, but I did lose an Uncle to such an accident. I have read that many driving deaths are caused by repeat drunk drivers that may have multiple offenses and be driving with a suspended license. Jail time may be one approach, but confiscating their vehicle may be a better one, and that doesn't cost us money for their incarceration.

Since there doesn't seem to be any evidence from an alcohol test one can't know for sure how impaired if any Patty was. I hope an impartial and inteligent DA and judge Fairly evaluate the evidence.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

So how does that work Bill????
If you refuse breathilizer, field sobriety and/or blood test then you're innocent because they have no evidence???

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Don't touch my junk!!

This is a problem in the U.S. it's called lawyers abusing the legal system to trump common sense.

Jack, perhaps you have ESP and you can tell us what her blood alcohol level if any was, that is how impaired if any she was? I can't do that. So I am not going to say she was "drunk driving". I wonder if there is a police video from the arrest or even the booking at the police station? We haven't heard anything about such evidence, aren't they supposed to video any stop or arrest? There might be some other testimony, perhaps a waiter who says he served Patty a certain number of drinks at an event, but that is not as definitive as an alcohol test.

Nowhere in my post did I write that she was "innocent", if you want to be accurate.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Actually Bill my question wasn't directly at any spectific instance.
From your previous post I thought you may know?

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Don't touch my junk!!

I think if you are driving to your hotel and you get pulled over on the runway, then that might be a sign.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I agree 100% with Rich, this topic is a waste. It is unfortunate that this situation occured, and regardless of whom was at fault Patty is human. humans make mistakes, from the little guy on the street to the president of the United States. It mystifies me how quick some on here were quick to assemble the gallows from day one.

This topic has nothing to do with the passion of warbird aviation except on the dirt the incident occured on.


Additionally, I will make the assumption that none of you who have been so quick to convict her have ever had the chance to discuss directly with Patty not only what happened but how and what she has learned from this incident in the aftermath.

Patty is a pefectionist and a woman with integrity, it shows in her flying, in the way she deals with others and the overall way she lives her life.

There have been Thunderbirds, fighter aces, astronauts, senators, and people of all walks of life with the highest of morals that have been involved in unfortunate incidents involving alcohol throughout history. I judge them more on how they conduct themselves after the incident and what they can give back to society in the aftermath.

No one was hurt in the situation and guilty or not guilty Patty will have to live to a higher standard because of it.

Just my two cents worth ......