Pilot Accused of “Dive-Bombing” Beach, Claims Loss of Control
A pilot is facing scrutiny after he reported losing control of his single-engine airplane, plunging it over the coast of South Carolina, which led to alarmed beachgoers making a hasty exit.
William Roger Williamson III was arrested on May 26 following a troubling solo flight he had chartered earlier in April, as detailed by the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office.
The 50-year-old was flying over Pawleys Island when his aircraft reportedly veered perilously close to the shoreline, leaving sunbathers in fear of an impending crash.
One witness recounted to local media how she instinctively panicked, thinking the plane was about to collide with her family while they were enjoying their day at the beach. “I turned around and he zeroed in on us like he was dive-bombing,” she reported, noting how it felt alarmingly close.
“We literally jumped out of our beach chairs because we thought he was going to crash into the beach,” she added, reflecting the anxiety of the moment.
Others echoed her concerns, describing how the plane seemed to narrowly miss a line of beach houses. Pawleys Island officials, including City Councilman Mark Horn and Police Chief Michael Fanning, were present and witnessed the event unfold. A vigilant beachgoer even managed to capture the airplane’s tail number, leading back to Williamson.
In the subsequent investigation, FAA officials reached out to him. He explained that ice had formed on one of the carburetors, causing a knob to detach while attempting to defrost it, a troubling scenario for any pilot.
He claimed to have regained control after a brief descent. However, investigators were skeptical of his explanation. They noted that all pilots are specifically instructed to fly parallel to the coastline or out to sea in case of emergencies—a guideline Williamson seemingly overlooked.
The FAA subsequently sent him a letter, giving him 30 days to respond. The details of this letter remain unclear, but after failing to reply, a judge sanctioned the issuance of an arrest warrant.
Williamson has been charged with breach of peace with aggravated characteristics and was later released on a $5,000 bail after turning himself in.
