A 32-year-old West Covina man without a license to fly was arrested after he stole and single-engine plane at Chino Airport Wednesday afternoon and then crashed into a fence when he landed at Fullerton Airport.
The man was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and the theft of an aircraft. Only minor damage occurred when the Cessna 172S overshot the runway while landing and hit a fence, Sgt. Eric Bridges told the Orange County Register.
“We called the owner and asked if he was missing a plane, and he said ‘no’ at first,” Bridges said. “He thought it was still sitting at the airport where he left it.”
The fence along a portion of Dale Street was damaged by the plane.
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"It's one of the shortest runways around, and for someone who is inexperienced landing here would be an issue," NBC4 helicopter pilot Gil Leyvas said.
It wasn't immediately clear or why the plane was stolen, police said.
