Daniel Field airplane stolen [Georgia, USA]

Augusta Chronicle ^ | June 9, 2002 | Albert Ross, Jr.

[TomGuy]

Daniel Field airplane stolen

Web posted Sunday, June 9, 2002
By Albert Ross Jr.
Staff Writer

A 1979 Cessna 172 airplane was reported stolen from Daniel Field on Saturday, police said. The four-passenger aircraft was last seen about 7 p.m. Friday by its owner Terry Florie of Evans, according to authorities.

Mr. Florie was contacted at his home Saturday but declined to comment.

Sgt. Jimmy Vowell of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office said the owner noticed the plane missing at 10 a.m. Saturday, but thought a friend had taken the plane out. Saturday evening, he searched hangers and still could not find his plane. He then called police, he said.

"The best we can gather is that someone trespassed on the property ... and flew the plane out of there," Sgt. Vowell said.

Buster Boshears, the airport manager for Daniel Field, said the airport does not have security or tower personnel 24 hours a day, but the sheriff's office does patrol Daniel Field at night.

Mr. Boshears said he was surprised to hear about the theft.

"To my knowledge, it's the first time we've had an airplane stolen from the airport," he said.

Sgt. Vowell said the FBI and Federal Aviation Administration were notified about the theft as a post-Sept. 11 concern.

"There have been some issues raised about possible private aircraft being stolen and used in terroristic attempts," he said. "You really can't treat it as a stolen vehicle."

Mr. Boshears said the Cessna aircraft is a popular plane and is affordable. It ranges in price from $25,000 to $160,000 depending on the equipment in the plane, Mr. Boshears said.

Daniel Field, located at Highland Avenue and Wrightsboro Road, houses 75 aircraft on 140 acres.

Reach Albert Ross at (706) 823-3339 or
albert.ross@augustachronicle.com.

[TomGuy]

Stay vigilant, stay alert.

[Elkiejg]

Just saw a TV show about vehicles being repossesed and the repo company in fact took possession of an airplane and flew it out - since the owner "wouldn't comment", wonder if he knows what really happened???

[TomGuy]

Follow up news article:


Attack is unlikely purpose for theft

Web posted Monday, June 10, 2002
By Greg Rickabaugh
Staff Writer

A four-passenger Cessna 172 airplane reported stolen from Daniel Field probably was taken because it's a popular model, not because terrorists needed it for their next attack, officials said Sunday.

On Saturday, flight instructor Terry Florie discovered his 1979 Cessna 172 missing from Daniel Field. Airport officials said the theft might be a first for the airport.

Still, there is little reason to worry that the theft was a prelude to terrorism, they said. It's more likely that the single-engine plane was hot-wired and flown out of the airport for a joy ride or because it was a popular model.

"The boy in Tampa proved how little damage a plane like that can do," said airport Manager Buster Boshears, referring to a Cessna 172 stolen by a 15-year-old flight student in January. The Florida ninth-grader flew the plane into the side of the 41-story Bank of America building. Windows shattered, but there was no fire and the structure remained intact.

Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Jimmy Vowell compared the Cessna 172 with the six-seat Piper Malibu Mirage in which former state Sen. Thomas F. Allgood Sr. was riding when it crashed in August 2000. That plane wasn't strong enough to go through a brick wall it struck in the crash, which killed Mr. Allgood, his wife and the pilot.

Sheriff's officials have notified the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration because of post-Sept. 11 concerns.

Mr. Florie's plane had not been located by Sunday afternoon, he said.

Though terrorism doesn't appear to be the motive, Sgt. Vowell said, investigators haven't ruled it out. They also haven't ruled out that the plane might have been stolen by drug smugglers, although criminals in the drug trade usually take larger aircraft, the sergeant said.

Sgt. Vowell said it appeared easy to take the plane because there was nobody in the tower overnight Friday and the person flying the plane would not have had to fill out a flight log.

Mr. Boshears said security measures have not been increased since the theft because that would be too costly.

Reach Greg Rickabaugh at (706) 828-3851 or
greg.rickabaugh@augustachronicle.com.

[leadpenny]

I'm surprised the authorities didn't at least release a description of the plane that included the tail number.

[DBtoo]

How often do planes get stolen?

[alley cat]

"The boy in Tampa proved how little damage a plane like that can do," said airport Manager Buster Boshears, referring to a Cessna 172 stolen by a 15-year-old flight student in January.

But that plane wasn't filled with explosives.

[plinker's2sense]

I was thinking the same thing. Fill it with explosives and fly it into a crowded stadium.

[Flyer]

Dirty nuke delivery tool?

[snippy_about_it]

I am insulted at how these stories always try to "calm the masses" immediately without any knowledge to back them up.

Without knowing what, who, or why about a story, they are able to spit out that it is not terrorist related. Calm down little children, nothing to see here move along.

It is getting pathetic. </ rant>

[Rebelbase]

I just got out of the shower.

[grobdriver]

Fill it with explosives and fly it into a crowded stadium.

All 400 pounds of it (w/200 pound pilot).
There are better aircraft to steal for that purpose.

[Illbay]

You're kidding, right?

Have you ever SEEN a crop-duster? They're NOT "stock aircraft." They're specially-built for crop-dusting operations, with stubby, wide wings (for a very low stall speed) and with the dusting equipment built in.

The most you could do with this Cessna is dump some sacks of stuff into a reservoir, I suppose.

But fearing a "crop-duster attack" is just silly.

[Illbay]

That's the point of the follow-up article. But lotsa FReepers just LIVE to get hysterical.

[LurkedLongEnough]

but thought a friend had taken the plane out. Saturday evening...

"Here's the keys to my plane, use it anytime you want?"

Something wrong with this picture. Watch this guy's finances.

[eno_]

The most you could do with this Cessna is dump some sacks of stuff into a reservoir, I suppose.

But fearing a "crop-duster attack" is just silly.

It is certain this Cessna cannot be converted into an effective delivery tools for a large amount - more than 500# - of anything. So, yeah, a cropduster conversion is pretty much out and a biological or poison attack is unlikely. However 500# of high explosive makes an impressive hole.

And there us still that missing armored Ayers cropduster missing from a State/DEA op in South America.

[eddie willers]

the repo company in fact took possession of an airplane and flew it out

[Quilla]

Good question! Since pilots have to check with an airport for every takeoff and landing, it would seem planes are not good choices for theft. I assume the registration and licensing procedures are rather strick as well. Ah, but if the perp intended to use the stolen plane for one trip only.... Makes one wonder.

[elfman2]

" That plane could do a lot of damage if its used as a crop duster."

Not really. Too complex of a retrofit for a dozen Saudi Arabian dirt bags, and even then, crop dusting isn't as easy as one might think. Growing up in SE Texas, I was told that it was the most demanding and dangerous form of flying. And I doubt that an airplane can be hidden like this, at least not by a gang of SA morons.

Great area that you live in BTW.