Small airport.
Posted on 06/16/2005 12:47:08 PM PDT by SamFromLivingston
FORT PAYNE, Ala. (AP) — Police say a 14-year-old boy is in juvenile detention today after he apparently decided he wanted to fly a Cessna aircraft.
Fort Payne Police Chief David Walker said the Rainsville youngster was apparently wandering around the Fort Payne Municipal Airport when he found a set of keys inside the cockpit.
The incident happened last night at about 11:20 p.m..
Walker said the boy started the plane's engine and after driving around the runway he took off. Police estimate the teen flew about five minutes and then landed. But he took off again and flew the plane over areas of Fort Payne for nearly a half-hour.
When the boy attempted to make a second landing, he barely missed a fence. Seconds later, according to police, the plane's engine died causing it to make a hard landing on a road near the airport.
The boy, who told police it was his first-ever flight, suffered only minor injuries.
Walker said the 1981 Cessna Two, valued at $35,000, has significant structural damaged.
The juvenile was charged with first-degree theft and giving false information to police. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.
Whoa....that boy must be something of a savant.
Boy! Those flight sim games sure must have gotten better.
Doing touch and goes?
This kid must ba natural to do what he did.
Nah, the plane is almost control neutral. Pretty good choice to steal if you know nothing.
Where is your plane?
I'm thinking the part about "1st ever flight" might be part of his "lying to police" charge.
Lots of questions about this tale.
One thing is for certain.... if I'd have done any like this at 14, I would have never made 15. My dad wouldn't of thought much of me stealing a plane.
Probably ran out of fuel. Kid got lucky. He could have been at a nasty altitude when it died.
"Whoa....that boy must be something of a savant."
I remember when I solo'd at the age of 45. I took off, flew the pattern and then realized that I was going to have to land the thing all by myself. Terror! Then my training kicked in and it all went beautifully. I can't believe that this kid didn't have any training.
Let me ask you a question. When I fly United I can listen to the cockpit conversations. You hear all of the radio transmissions that is. And as you know those guys about every 10 minutes are changing to a new frequency to keep up with the ground tracking etc. Do private pilots have to go through all of that as well???
To some degree, but not as much because: (1) slower and (2) lower.
My wife solo'd on her 16th birthday..14 is pretty young
without any training or some bootlegged time with pop
Yes, If you're flying in controlled airspace you do. If you're flying in uncontrolled airspace you only have to announce your intentions when landing. Don't take that for gospel as I haven't flown in years. The rules are different for instrument flight also. We've got lots of more experienced pilots on the site that could tell you a lot more.
Small airport.
Locked away in her hangar.
I hope.
;-)
I may be silly, but I'd kind of like to own an Ercoupe.
The flight simulator games today are remarkably realistic. Bet he's spent time on them. Kid gets credit for cool nerves. With no respect for people's property, he'll be in prison 10 years from now. What a waste.
Can you imagine? "Hello, this is the police, remember that plane you used to have..."
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