There was an odd sight Thursday morning on Kiawah Island. Charleston County Sheriff’s deputies say the pilot of a small plane landed on the beach so he could take photos. However, Kenneth Leonard of Hillsborough, Florida was not able to take off again after his plane’s tires became stuck in the sand.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Maj. Jim Brady says the single-engine plane landed in a quiet area of the beach about a quarter-mile from the Ocean Course. He said the office received a call around 11:13 a.m.
Brady said deputies were not sure at first if Leonard had violated any regulations and had to consult with the Federal Aviation Authority on whether or not the pilot could be charged. “It was our understanding at this point that there was no violation of the law,” he told Charleston affiliate WTMA.
Leonard was eventually able to get his plane in the air again around noon. According to deputies, the pilot was traveling from Tampa, Florida to New Jersey.
Sheree Bernardi of Charleston affiliate WTMA contributed to this report.
