Authorities in Los Angeles are puzzling out how someone made off with a straight tail Cessna 172 twice in a few days from different airports. They’re looking for a woman who was last seen with the plane. According to CBS News, Jason Hong noticed the plane missing from Corona Airport last week. It was found 17 miles away at Brackett Field undamaged but with a dead battery. Hong said that when he returned a few days later with a battery, the airplane was gone again.
It was found Monday at San Gabriel Valley Airport. “It was just parked out on the tarmac, unoccupied,” El Monte PD Lt. Aram Choe told CBS. “In fact, it had a chain from the airplane to the bolt on the ground.” CBS said a woman was seen parking the plane at San Gabriel. Hong, 75, said the plane will likely stay at San Gabriel. It has 24-hour surveillance and staff have promised to keep a close eye on it. “This has better people,” Hong told CBS. “Better lounge than Corona. A little bit farther but this airport can be my home base.”
Hong being 75 and not too concerned about where his plane is parked – is almost funny. One would hope the lady which keeps the airplane on the move, would leave a couple bucks for fuel?
Twice in one week? Same woman? Got to be a first. She must know the area like a local controller—right on the edge of busy Ontario’s Class C and LAX’s Class B, just close enough to keep it interesting.
BTW, Corona (KAJO) has been my CFI meal stop for decades, but San Gabriel (KEMT) isn’t a bad place to park your “borrowed” ride either.
Maybe the woman thinks the plane is part of a public sharing system like many cities have for bicycles.
There’s gotta be more to this story. Flight tracking sites show these were the only flights of this plane in 3 months. Planes need to be flown. Maybe the owner should make a deal with that woman.
Sounds like maybe it’s being done by someone with inside knowledge, friends, neighbors, family, etc! Needs a hidden tracking device installed somewhere on it.
Put superglue on the yoke and throttle. Mystery solved.
Tom, the superglue stuff leaves skin residue when the thief is removed. Its better to just let her fly the plane. Maybe she reads AVbrief and will be triggered to leave some cash for AVgas. 😂
Add some oolichon greas to the glue. It’s quite fragrant and unmistakably pungent. The perp will be sensed within 3 miles of the tie down area. Just my two cents worth in the ongoing fight to stop crime💊.