Kid Steals Plane, Flies It

[777-2H4]

Some of you may have read this story already...down in Alabama a 14 year old kid "stole" a Cessna 182 from a small airport, found the keys inside it, took off once for a short spin and landed, then took off again and flew for about 30 minutes before crashing (or setting it down hard enough to break it!) on a road on approach back to the airport. He wasn't hurt, plane was probably totalled.

The kid said he had never been inside a cockpit. He did not have an X-box or flight sim at home. He "just did it".

Is that really possible? I know those planes are fairly easy to fly - thats why they're such good trainers - and the FAA has a very young min. age so there are teenagers taking flying lessons and actually flying them legally. But with no prior background?? Oh, and I forgot to mention - this took place at NIGHT! Around 10-11pm. Something doesn't seem right to me. He kept the plane in the air in a rural and mountainous part of Alabama Geez...if flying is really that simple when what the heck am I waiting for??!! LOL

 

[say again]

Flying is easy, heck, they trained monkees to do it. It's all the othe BS you have to deal with.

 

[MFRskyknight]

...if flying is really that simple when what the heck am I waiting for??!! LOL

Hopefully, you're waiting until you're taught how to land. Did you see the picture? Ouch. That kid is one lucky little snot.

 

[Lead Sled]

Some of you may have read this story already...down in Alabama a 14 year old kid "stole" a Cessna 182 from a small airport, found the keys inside it, took off once for a short spin and landed, then took off again and flew for about 30 minutes before crashing (or setting it down hard enough to break it!) on a road on approach back to the airport. He wasn't hurt, plane was probably totalled.

The kid said he had never been inside a cockpit. He did not have an X-box or flight sim at home. He "just did it".

Is that really possible? I know those planes are fairly easy to fly - thats why they're such good trainers - and the FAA has a very young min. age so there are teenagers taking flying lessons and actually flying them legally. But with no prior background?? Oh, and I forgot to mention - this took place at NIGHT! Around 10-11pm. Something doesn't seem right to me. He kept the plane in the air in a rural and mountainous part of Alabama Geez...if flying is really that simple when what the heck am I waiting for??!! LOL

Has Mini been out flying again???

'Sled

 

[9GClub]

Has Mini been out flying again???

Dangit somebody stop him.

FLYING is easy, it's LANDING without damaging the equipment and embarassing yourself in front of the ladies that's difficult.

 

[KVNY]

Flying is easy, heck, they trained monkees to do it. It's all the othe BS you have to deal with.

Yup. Gotta learn how to deal with failures, traffic and ATC, how to navigate, all the science behind all of this etc. Simply taking off and landing is only half the battle. There are even stories of pilots trimming up the aircraft, getting comfy, falling asleep and waking up 2 hours later to find the plane still going just fine lol.