Light Sport Aircraft
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 2500; Flight Crew Type 800
Workload; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Human Factors
The student was forced to maneuver our aircraft in order to avoid a radio controlled (RC) airplane being operated near the RC Park on the northwest end of Utah Lake. We were performing ground reference maneuvers over the Lehi/Saratoga Springs area at 5;500 FT MSL putting us about 1;000 FT AGL. While in a left hand turn the student saw the RC plane and reacted immediately by turning the aircraft to the right in order to avoid the hazard. As the student turned our airplane to the right I was able to see the RC plane approximately 200 feet above us performing maneuvers and dives to include a dive through our original flight path and altitude. The student wisely decided to move to a different area to perform his ground reference maneuvers. As I watched the RC plane maneuver I felt that it was intentional and that he was attempting to 'mess with us' or show off. Based on the size of the RC plane and the skill at which it was being operated I feel like the operator would have been somebody familiar with RC plane operations and regulations.
An Instructor reported his student took evasive action at 1;000 FT from a radio controlled (RC) aircraft; which was apparently being flown with intent toward and around their maneuvering aircraft. They were near an RC park northwest of Utah Lake.