Air carrier PIC ramp checked by FAA. Lost wallet and pilot certificates.

Attributes
ACN	294426
Time
Date	199501
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	294426
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	observation : air carrier inspector
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Sometime between leaving my apartment in chicago on jan/xx/95 at XA30 local and arriving at XB00 local my wallet was either stolen or lost out of my overnight bag. This discovery occurred on scheduled rsw to mdw but diverted to ind. Since the flight was a diversion (we thought that we had blown a tire departing rsw) an FAA maintenance inspector came on board and asked to see my certificates. When I looked in my bag for my wallet, I couldn't find it. I immediately called my chief pilot's office and within 25 mins I had a confirmation facsimile from FAA/okc in my hands. With this facsimile I was, of course, able to continue the flight back to mdw. The FAA maintenance inspector informed me that he would be turning the incident over to our poi and that it could mean a violation for me. Needless to say I did not operate without my certificates (pilot's certificate and medical certificate) intentionally or consciously. Since I used public transportation, I believe that my wallet was probably stolen in the crowd (my bag was unzipped). As usual the FAA will see this as a violation as per the letter of the law. However, stuff happens. The intent of the safety was in no way compromised.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PIC RAMP CHKED BY FAA. LOST WALLET AND PLT CERTIFICATES.

Narrative: SOMETIME BTWN LEAVING MY APARTMENT IN CHICAGO ON JAN/XX/95 AT XA30 LCL AND ARRIVING AT XB00 LCL MY WALLET WAS EITHER STOLEN OR LOST OUT OF MY OVERNIGHT BAG. THIS DISCOVERY OCCURRED ON SCHEDULED RSW TO MDW BUT DIVERTED TO IND. SINCE THE FLT WAS A DIVERSION (WE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD BLOWN A TIRE DEPARTING RSW) AN FAA MAINT INSPECTOR CAME ON BOARD AND ASKED TO SEE MY CERTIFICATES. WHEN I LOOKED IN MY BAG FOR MY WALLET, I COULDN'T FIND IT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY CHIEF PLT'S OFFICE AND WITHIN 25 MINS I HAD A CONFIRMATION FAX FROM FAA/OKC IN MY HANDS. WITH THIS FAX I WAS, OF COURSE, ABLE TO CONTINUE THE FLT BACK TO MDW. THE FAA MAINT INSPECTOR INFORMED ME THAT HE WOULD BE TURNING THE INCIDENT OVER TO OUR POI AND THAT IT COULD MEAN A VIOLATION FOR ME. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DID NOT OPERATE WITHOUT MY CERTIFICATES (PLT'S CERTIFICATE AND MEDICAL CERTIFICATE) INTENTIONALLY OR CONSCIOUSLY. SINCE I USED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, I BELIEVE THAT MY WALLET WAS PROBABLY STOLEN IN THE CROWD (MY BAG WAS UNZIPPED). AS USUAL THE FAA WILL SEE THIS AS A VIOLATION AS PER THE LETTER OF THE LAW. HOWEVER, STUFF HAPPENS. THE INTENT OF THE SAFETY WAS IN NO WAY COMPROMISED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.