Posted on 03/01/2006 8:24:26 AM PST by Mikey_1962
Two Big Bear Lake boys were arrested after stealing a small plane from a hangar at Big Bear Airport on Sunday and then making a forced landing.
The boys landed in Pinto Basin, about 30 miles southeast of Twentynine Palms, between 5:30 and 6 p.m. They suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene by rangers, according to park officials.
They were arrested on suspicion of stealing an airplane and of burglary, for having entered the hangar without authorization, said Cindy Beavers, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Before the plane took off, two pilots at Big Bear Airport who saw the boys taxiing called the craft's owner and the Sheriff's Department.
Deputies arrived at 5:31 p.m., but the plane had already left. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified and checked airports for the plane, according to park officials.
Sheriff's officials said they had received information that the boys were trying to run away.
"There was a disagreement between the boys and their parents, and [the boys] decided to run away," Beavers said.
The boys bypassed three levels of security before taking off, taking the keys to get into the airport and the hangar, as well as the keys for the aircraft itself, said Garry Dokter, general manager of the airport.
In this case, the two local pilots told officials they were suspicious because they did not recognize the plane's pilot.
Officials said they were unsure why the plane had to land. It could have run out of gas, Beavers said.
There was only 90 minutes' worth of fuel in the plane, she said.
Although neither boy has a pilot's license, the boy who piloted the plane flew regularly with his father and had some knowledge of flying, Dokter said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
quite a joy ride ping!
This happened over the weekend....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1586388/posts
I had a little disagreement with one of the guys on this thread that thought these kids should be applauded for their courage.
Vomit.
If your son took your car without permission or license and then had a wreck. You would be furious at your son. But would you turn them over to the law? Tecnically it not car theft since it happened within family.
The boys took their father plan and sucessfully flew it . That takes some skill. The choice and judgement was bad and not wise ,but what 14 year old shows good judgement all the time?
I tell ya, living in Southern California sure is wacky. The news is so interesting and strange. The car crashes are multi-car, usually include an overturned or jack-knifed semi and a bus, and often they crash into buildings. Many times the car crashes include at least one flaming vehicle. And this is on dry roads, when it rains, the freeways turn into Destruction Derbies. I almost hate to turn on the noon news, so many wacky people out here! But I have met some Great Freepers in California, too!
Airplanes are different from cars. I believe he broke federal laws by breaking security at an airfield and tampering with an airplane.
This may not be as easy as daddy saying, "bygones".
Bad judgement is trying a beer at a party, not stealing an airplane.
I believe we have different attitudes about discipline and punishment.
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