Joe Morris wrote:

The key difference is whether it's "intent to fly" (pilot license required)
or "careless or reckless" operation (license irrelevent).

If I recall the incident correctly, they didn't charge him with careless
operation. They charged him with operating the plane under the influence of alcohol.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.