C172 pilot reports rc model airplane at pattern altitude at eet.

Attributes
ACN	735430
Time
Date	200704
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eet.airport
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl single value : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	735430
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Airport
Primary Problem	Airspace Structure

Narrative:

I was on left downwind leg at 1600 ft MSL for landing on runway 15 at eet when a remotely controled small aircraft was observed spiraling upward to pattern altitude at my 10 O'clock position; and a horizontal distance of approximately 200 ft. It was then seen descending back toward the ground. It appeared that the remote controled aircraft was intentionally controled toward my airplane. The incident was reported to the FBO after landing who indicated that they were aware of a remote control airplane club operating in that area. The operator indicated that it has been reported to the FAA who has taken no action. I believe that the remote control club operations should be moved outside of the traffic pattern or that their flight operations should be limited to 500 ft AGL or below. Traffic patters at eet require downwind flight over that area for both runways.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PILOT REPORTS RC MODEL AIRPLANE AT PATTERN ALTITUDE AT EET.

Narrative: I WAS ON L DOWNWIND LEG AT 1600 FT MSL FOR LNDG ON RWY 15 AT EET WHEN A REMOTELY CTLED SMALL ACFT WAS OBSERVED SPIRALING UPWARD TO PATTERN ALT AT MY 10 O'CLOCK POS; AND A HORIZ DISTANCE OF APPROX 200 FT. IT WAS THEN SEEN DSNDING BACK TOWARD THE GND. IT APPEARED THAT THE REMOTE CTLED ACFT WAS INTENTIONALLY CTLED TOWARD MY AIRPLANE. THE INCIDENT WAS RPTED TO THE FBO AFTER LNDG WHO INDICATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF A REMOTE CTL AIRPLANE CLUB OPERATING IN THAT AREA. THE OPERATOR INDICATED THAT IT HAS BEEN RPTED TO THE FAA WHO HAS TAKEN NO ACTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE REMOTE CTL CLUB OPS SHOULD BE MOVED OUTSIDE OF THE TFC PATTERN OR THAT THEIR FLT OPS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO 500 FT AGL OR BELOW. TFC PATTERS AT EET REQUIRE DOWNWIND FLT OVER THAT AREA FOR BOTH RWYS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.