"Aircraft Stolen At Frederick Airport, Home Of Airport Watch"

["Stephen Irwin, M.S., A.A.E., I.A.P." <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Homeless man is held after stolen plane crashes in Frederick
By Martin Weil
The Washington (DC) Post 


A stolen airplane ran off an airport runway and crashed in Frederick on
Monday, city police said. Officers said a homeless man who was apparently
trying to get out of town was arrested and charged. 

The single-engine Piper Super Cub was being operated on the runway at
Frederick Municipal Airport about 2 a.m. when it went out of control and
ended up in grass, police said. Calvin C. Cox, 51, was taken into custody in
woods near the airport and charged with theft, burglary and trespassing,
police said. 

Although officers were not certain of a motive, they said they thought "his
intention was to leave the Frederick area." They said he was familiar with
airplanes and their operation. 

The airplane was taken from a hangar on airport property, police said. It
belongs to the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association and is used to tow gliders,
said the group's president, Michael H. Higgins. Starting it required
manipulation of switches and buttons, difficult for someone unfamiliar with
the procedure, he said. 

"It's a very unusual situation," he said. 

No injuries were reported. Higgins said the plane had propeller and possible
engine damage.

Related:

GA Airport security questioned
http://archives.californiaaviation.org/ganews/msg10244.html

TSA security proposals need balance, AOPA committee says
http://archives.californiaaviation.org/airport/msg45148.html



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