Three aircraft were destroyed in what looks like a case of arson at Avon Park Executive Airport near Sebring, Florida, on Tuesday. A Cessna 150, Cherokee 140, and another single, possibly another Cherokee, were involved. Officials have not released a cause, but the fires were centered on the cabins of each of the three aircraft and photos of the aftermath suggest the fires occurred individually and did not spread from any single aircraft. There was no one available at the airport to take a call from AvBrief.
A news release issued by the City of Avon Park confirmed the fire but offered no further details on a cause. The fires were reported at about 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday. The Avon Park fire department was first on the scene and called for help from Highlands County to get the fire out. They reportedly were able to keep the blazes from spreading to two other planes. Avon Park is about 10 miles north of Sebring.
What is happening to this world?
Polarization with a large number of bent, warped folks out there. Security recording cameras at airport parking lots and access gates for a start, then small, mean, hungry dogs in the dark hours.
The world (as in planet) is just fine, trying its mighty best to rid itself of the worst species which ever occupied it – however our society is damaged beyond all reasonable hope for repair. There is hope that some scientific development (gone sideways) will solve for X, though.
That has to be devastating to the owners. While I have insurance on my plane, I know I could not buy a replacement for the insured value. Mostly because of plane inflation.
Thank you Russ for keeping us informed.
We had a hangar fire in Corona a couple of years ago. A lot of expensive airplanes got destroyed. The cause was an electrical fire from a trickle charger for motorcycles. Yes the hangar renter was storing motorcycles instead of airplanes.
I don’t know what the data show, but I have always assumed that a plane on the ramp is at significant risk of vandalism – particularly at an unattended country airport. That said, the closest I have come to a problem in 40 years was a bird’s nest in the heater intake of a Cessna 310. I have more problems with hangar rash in group hangars.