And the stupidity continues… 
Beech, from the link you posted.
“The incident came a day after a Texas man with a grudge against the Internal Revenue Service slammed his small plane into an Austin office building that housed nearly 200 IRS employees. The pilot, Andrew Joseph Stack III, and one person inside the building were killed in an attack that highlighted the lack of security at small airfields.”
Now, how does this in any way highlight a lack of security at small airfields?
And what possible level of security would we require to prevent someone from taking off in their own plane?
N443CP Cirrus SR-22
Being 23 cool,
flying someones Cirrus around Southern Californa - hmmmm,
coming in too fast at 0230 at LAX and going around - what a view . . .
getting released on 20K bail not bad,
Doing the same thing at 14:30 instead of 02:30 - now that would be priceless!!! (and without using the radio!!!)
I see he even fueled up in Palm Springs first - I assume he was making all the correct radio work - and I assume nobody knew the aircraft was stolen until he attracted all the attention at LAX .
[quote=“JHEM”]
When are these “people” going to be held accountable for the garbage they write? There should be accuracy laws in the press.
1st Offense: Retraction with apology
2nd Offense: Suspension 60 Days
3rd Offense: Loss of credentials
Had to go around at LAX?
The shortest runway is 8k. I could do 6 touch and go in a SR-22
EPIC FAIL
from linked article:
Commercial flights generally do not operate at [KLAX] during the overnight hours.
Oh, really?
I agree with deef there are enough offenses in this one article alone to warrant loss of credentials. And from an AP writer, no less.
As I recall, the PSP tower closes around 2200/2300. The FBOs close around the same time. I wonder what time he landed there and how he got fuel. If after tower’s hours, he likely didn’t have to talk to anybody.
Maybe he pumped self serve with a stolen credit card.
This could be an inappropriate question, so don’t give the details on how to do it, but how easy is it to “hot wire” a GA aircraft? The kid that hides in the woods, (forget his name), in the Pacific North West has stolen several, now this knucklehead. Seems like it’s pretty easy.
On another point, I live in the North East and fly legally and I have no desire to take my 172 into Kennedy or Newark. I would be surprised if it happens at all. The NY controllers would probably tell you to F#@/ off if you called in for landing clearance. Do small GA aircraft frequent LAX? I prefer Long Beach when I fly commercial to CA, they do have a GA flight school.
I think there is a lot more to this story. (Being a criminal investigation, very few details have been released).
Aircraft’s key’s were taken from the flying school where the aircraft was based, and the aircraft was reported stolen that night.
The guy was flying at 11,500 feet, and was in contact with several ATC’s.
He was also reportedly involved in a domestic dispute before he took the plane, and reports include that the pilot’s original intention was to crash into the ocean.
So I’m assuming the LAX ATC were aware this was a stolen aircraft with a troubled young man at the controls - glad he somewhat came to his senses.
As for keys to an airplane, if you purchase the tools to pick the locks, I’m guessing you can enter any aircraft in under a minute.
We had a visiting Cessna parked on our ramp, the pilot left the parking brake on and split - leaving it in the middle of the ramp.
We went and got our bucket of old keys, and low and behold - one of the keys worked on this Cessna. (It was a US aircraft visiting Canada).
As far as entering the aircraft, then hot wiring it??, I’ve no idea, but I’ll assume it couldn’t be very hard to do, though I’ll guess lock picks will work better!!
Since when does ATC check tail numbers against a list of stolen aircraft. Does anyone really think that happens?
The fact police were waiting suggests they were aware of the extent of the problem with the pilot and/or the plane or both.
From what I have read on this incident, they were dealing with an upset, somewhat disorientated and suicidal young man.
I’m not suggesting ATC checked a updated midnight stolen plane list, after all, who says he was even using the aircrafts tail number?, just that ATC had the police awaiting his arrival.
When you declare an emergency and land at an international airport confused and disoriented, an airport with their own 1,100 member police department, they will come out and see what going on.
An air traffic controller who guided Turner to safety said the young man appeared “confused and disoriented but could follow instruction,” said Melvin Davis, a controllers union spokesman.
His father says Turner has a vision problem in one eye which makes it very difficult for him to land a plane.
I spent my teen years in aircraft maintenance to pay for my flight training. You wouldn’t believe how many times you would go to pick up someones airplane and they forgot to leave you a key. The word easy is to strong to describe the difficulty. 'nuf said.
I’ve flown a Tiger into EWR once, and flown a bunch of small AC into PHL over the years. Controllers are fine, depends on the time of day. I wouldn’t do it every day.
Highly doubt it. But regardless of the facts in this case, would the tower or security be at least puzzled/concerned if a light single, not in distress, asked to land at LAX.
Every light plane driver that I know would not even think of mixing it up at Newark or kennedy.
I’ve flown a Tiger into EWR once, and flown a bunch of small AC into PHL over the years. Controllers are fine, depends on the time of day. I wouldn’t do it every day.
Imagine the 747 pilot behind you thinking he has a bug o his windscreen!
I’ve flown Tigers, what did you use for your approach speed, flap setting in order to keep up? Where did ground direct you to go? Did you consider Linden as an alternative?
Tiger’s slow down really quick, and slip really well too. Also, the 747 pilot’s eyes are the same size as yours…
Situation was a good friend\ Continental pilot really late for work.
Linden, I haven’t been there in years, but I used to go in there all of the time to pick up airplanes for maintenance. Watch out for the oil tanks!!!
I saw a picture somewhere of a Falcon 20 (I believe) landing there with his TR’s deployed at about 5’ AGL. One of the drug companies used to have a hangar there.
He failed at life