Man Faces Federal Charges for Helicopter Landing in National Park

Grand Teton National Park welcomes three million visitors every year to its pristine nature trails and breathtaking bodies of water like Jackson Lake. But one man from Colorado is now facing federal charges for disturbing that peace. 

The National Park Service confirmed in a July 10 press release that park rangers responded to an illegal helicopter landing on the shores of Jackson Lake. They claim to have found Peter Smith of Gunnison, CO and another woman having a snack on the edge of the water while their helicopter remained parked next to them on the gravel. 

"The unauthorized landing of helicopters is prohibited on the lands and waters within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park in order to protect wildlife and other natural resources and to preserve the visitor experience," the statement read. They issued Smith two federal citations under the Code of Federal Regulations. One was for "operating or using aircraft on lands or waters other than at locations designated pursuant to special regulations" while the other was for "use of aircraft shall be in accordance with regulations of the FAA." The misdemeanor charges could include up to a $5,000 fine and/or six months of jail time. 

It's not the first time Smith has been charged for such an act. Just a few months ago, in February 2023, he was cited for violating FAA regulations by flying a fixed wing aircraft below minimum safe altitude in Colorado's Curecanti National Recreation Area. He paid a $530 fine as a result. 

When explaining his latest escapade to The Associated Press, Smith insisted that bad weather is what led him to make the emergency landing. "We were trying to cross over the Tetons and we couldn’t, so we landed," he explained. "We were not having a picnic. We were landing."

Smith is set to face a judge in Jackson, WY on Aug. 15 for his latest actions. If you're planning on seeing some national parks this summer, opting to explore them on foot may be the most visually appealing—and the most legal—option.