MACON- Rufus Crane, a 27-year-old student pilot from Coconut Creek, Florida, pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025, to interstate transportation of stolen aircraft.
Crane admitted to stealing a private Bonanza A-36 aircraft from a Perry, Georgia hangar and flying it to North Carolina without proper licensing or authorization.
Photo- Perry-Houston County Airport (Facebook)Pilot Flew Stolen Aircraft Pleads Guilty
Crane stole the single-engine Bonanza A-36 from Perry Airport (FPY) on May 4, 2024, despite holding only a Student Pilot License without required endorsements for solo flight or aircraft-specific operations.
The defendant flew the stolen aircraft to JAARS-Townsend Airport in Waxhaw, North Carolina, landing at approximately 12:42 a.m. on May 4.
Crane departed Waxhaw at approximately 3:14 a.m. on May 5, attempting to refuel in South Carolina before beginning his return flight to Perry. The defendant arrived in Perry around 5:47 a.m. but encountered dense fog that prevented a safe visual landing.
Photo- Perry-Houston County Airport (Facebook)Dangerous IFR Flight
Dense fog conditions forced Crane to operate under Instrument Flight Rules, requiring specialised training he had not received. The defendant used aircraft instruments and navigation aids instead of visual cues to navigate through hazardous weather conditions.
Crane diverted to Cochran Municipal Airport in Cochran, Georgia, where he refuelled before successfully landing the stolen aircraft back in Perry at approximately 11:01 a.m. on May 5. The defendant then returned the plane to its original hangar location.
Photo- Lars Lonnroth (Facebook)Safety Violations and Investigation
Throughout both nighttime flights, Crane kept the aircraft’s transponder turned off, preventing air traffic control from receiving critical location, altitude, and speed information. This action significantly increased collision risks and violated federal aviation safety protocols.
Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker emphasised that Crane’s unauthorised flights endangered multiple lives across several states despite his lack of proper training and licensing.
Perry Police Captain James Jones characterised the theft as a serious public safety threat affecting countless lives across multiple jurisdictions.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General’s Southern Region, led by Special Agent in Charge Joseph Harris, collaborated with local authorities to investigate the aviation safety violations.
Perry Police Detective Ike Wilcox conducted investigative work alongside federal partners.
The FAA provided technical assistance during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard represents the government in prosecuting the case, which demonstrates the federal commitment to aviation safety enforcement and airspace security protection.
Photo- RawpixelFine and Imprisonment
The defendant faces up to 10 years imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell presides over the case, with sentencing scheduled for September 17. Federal sentencing guidelines eliminate parole options.
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