Man Ticketed for Landing Chopper in Yard

Link : http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=816&ncid=816&e=20&u=/ap/20040929/ap_on_fe_st/helicopter_ticket

NEW CANAAN, Conn. - A man who told police he wanted to avoid traffic gridlock has been ticketed for landing a helicopter in his back yard.



John Kjekstad, 42, told police he landed the chopper at home Thursday because he did not want to deal with the traffic on the Merritt Parkway, Sgt. Louis Gannon said Tuesday.


Kjekstad, who runs two helicopter and airplane charter companies, had planned to land his helicopter at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and drive home to New Canaan.


On his flight to Teterboro, Kjekstad told police he saw bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Merritt and chose to fly directly home instead.


Police received a phone call from a neighbor and issued Kjekstad a $75 ticket for violating a town ordinance prohibiting landing aircraft on residential property, Gannon said.