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A Florida student pilot, Rufus Crane, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the theft and unauthorized operation of a Beechcraft Bonanza A-36 aircraft. The incident occurred in May 2024 when Crane, then 27 years old, took the plane from Perry Airport without permission and flew it to Waxhaw, North Carolina.
The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that the investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), local police, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to Captain James Jones of the Perry Police Department, "The theft and unauthorized operation of an aircraft is not just a property crime—it’s a serious threat to public safety."
Crane, who only held a student pilot's license at the time, lacked both instrument training and authorization for the specific aircraft he piloted. He flew with his transponder turned off during nighttime conditions and faced difficulties landing due to weather issues. After refueling at Cochran Municipal airfield, he returned the plane to Perry airfield.
