Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 2300; Flight Crew Type 1000
Confusion
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
During a pre-planned and briefed two ship formation sortie I performed several non-aerobatic formation and solo photo flybys. After landing upon parking and beginning to shut down the turbine aircraft a [law enforcement officer] rapidly pulled up to the aircraft. He parked next to the wing and while the engine was still running walked to the pilot side of the aircraft near the pilot door. I continued with my standard shutdown checklist including a 2 minute engine 'cool down' per the POH (Pilot Operating Handbook) before cutting fuel and formally shutting the engine down. I was uncomfortable with his proximity to the spinning propeller and potentially bringing other bystanders who were approaching to see what was going on closer to the running aircraft however I continued with the shutdown per the POH.After shutdown I opened the door to speak with the trooper and he stated he witnessed what he called aerobatics and unsafe flying and recorded them. He did not share his recordings with me. He requested my drivers and pilot's license along with my medical certificate and took them to his vehicle to photograph and/or copy. He stated that I should expect a call from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regarding what he considered aerobatic flying low over the airport; buzzing extremely low over hangars and cutting off aircraft in the pattern. He told me I was lucky to not be going to jail that evening. I was massively confused and thrown off by his comments but decided it was not the time and place to argue with an armed officer.As owner/pilot of Aircraft X; at no time did I perform aerobatic loops and rolls under 1;500 ft. (or at any altitude in Aircraft X); buzz over hangars nor cut off traffic in the pattern. During the formation flight another low wing aircraft at the field was operating without radio calls performing 'stunt flying' including low level acrobatics; buzzing hangars; etc. I believe the trooper confused my aircraft with the other aircraft in the pattern and approached me when I landed in confusion. Approximately 20-30 seconds after the officer got into his truck and began pulling away the other low wing aircraft that was flying in the pattern buzzed over the group of people on the ramp; me and my TBM and the officer driving away. This was recorded on film by some of the other people on the ramp. I assume the officer saw this as he stuck around the airport for the next 3-3.5 hours presumably waiting for the other aircraft to land. The other low wing aircraft did not land at ZZZ and departed the area.In hindsight I should have considered shutting the turbine engine down faster to avoid a rapidly spinning propeller with a large group of people on the ramp including some who were not familiar with aircraft operations. My confusion with why an armed officer was standing so close to my running aircraft post landing was a little worrisome and made me nervous. In the future I would likely better evaluate my surroundings and shut down faster as long as it was safe to do so. Having been thru something like this now I would in the future ask for the Officer's card so I could follow up on the incident when everyone wasn't standing on a hot ramp and cooler heads could prevail along with connecting him with other witnesses who saw and filmed the other aircraft 'stunt flying'. Safety of not only myself and my aircraft but also those around me on the ground is always my highest priority whenever I fly.
Private Pilot reported being wrongly accused of performing aerobatics over airport.