YOUNGSTOWN — The Federal Aviation Administration will take several months to find out why a small plane flew low over Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday, startling gridiron fans during the Youngstown State University football game.

Elizabeth Isham Cory, public affairs spokeswoman for FAA’s Great Lakes Region, said her agency does not discuss open investigations. Cory said the FAA only has authority to level civil penalties against the pilot of the aircraft, while criminal charges, if any, have to be filed by law enforcement.

Reports indicate the small plane was circling the stadium several times at low altitudes near the lights and the press box on the east side of the stadium during the early-evening game in which the Penguins defeated Robert Morris University, 45-10, for the team’s fourth straight victory.

Initial reports said the incident had disturbed many people in the stands.

Chris Tornello of Youngstown said he owns the Cessna 150 aircraft and did not fly the plane Saturday. He said the plane was used by an experienced pilot who has regularly flown jets.

“This is unfortunate. We haven’t had this type of incident before. We are trying to get this under control,” Tornello said. “This pilot just made a mistake, but he is very experienced.”

Tornello said the information from the flight tower at the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport will be forwarded to FAA’s Flight District Standards office in Cleveland for the investigation.

The Cleveland office will determine the sanctions against the pilot, whom Tornello chose not to name.

Ron Cole, communications director with YSU, said the YSU Police Department handled the initial investigation, but a police spokesman on Monday referred all questions to Cole, who could not be reached by the newspaper.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com