Georgia Student Pilot Pleads Guilty to Stealing Aircraft, Flying to North Carolina
Defendant Flew Stolen Bonaza A-36 in IFR Weather Conditions
MACON, Ga. – A student pilot who admitted to stealing a private plane from a Perry, Georgia, hanger and flying it to North Carolina and back—at one point flying in foggy weather conditions requiring specialized instrument training for safety—is facing up to ten years in prison for his crime.
Rufus Crane, 27, of Coconut Creek, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen aircraft on June 11. Crane faces a maximum of ten years imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 17. There is no parole in the federal system.
“By choosing to steal a single-engine aircraft and fly to North Carolina—making landings at several regional airports along the way—the defendant put his own life and the lives of others at risk, despite not being fully trained or holding a pilot’s license,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. "The regulations governing our nation's airspace are designed to ensure the safety of everyone. Those who disregard federal law will be held accountable. I want to thank the Perry Police Department investigators for their diligent work alongside our federal partners in this case."
“The theft and unauthorized operation of an aircraft is not just a property crime—it’s a serious threat to public safety,” said Captain James Jones of the Perry Police Department. “Mr. Crane’s reckless actions placed countless lives at risk across multiple states. I’m proud of the investigative work done by Perry Police Detective Ike Wilcox and thankful for the strong collaboration with our federal partners to bring this case to justice.”
“A situation like this can escalate quickly when critical aviation safety laws and regulations are brazenly disregarded,” said Joseph Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southern Region. “We’re committed to working closely with our law enforcement, agency and prosecutorial partners to pursue those whose actions endanger lives and jeopardize the safety of our nation’s airspace.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Crane stole a Bonanza A-36 aircraft stored at the Perry Airport in Perry, Georgia, on May 4, 2024. Without having the required lawful flying credentials, Crane took the single-engine aircraft and flew it to the JAARS-Townsend Airport in Waxhaw, North Carolina, landing at approximately 12:42 a.m. on May 4. Crane departed from Waxhaw on May 5 at approximately 3:14 a.m. After stopping in South Carolina to attempt to refuel, Crane began a return flight in the stolen aircraft to Perry.
When Crane arrived in Perry at approximately 5:47 a.m., he could not land safely because the area was too foggy for him to see the runway. Crane operated the aircraft under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), meaning he used the aircraft's instruments and navigation aids instead of visual cues to fly the plane. Because of the fog, Crane flew to Cochran Municipal Airport in Cochran, Georgia, where he refueled before landing the stolen aircraft back in Perry at around 11:01 a.m. on May 5, and returned the plane to the hangar.
At the time of these flights, in addition to not having permission to fly the stolen aircraft, he only held a Student Pilot Certificate. Crane had not received the proper endorsements required to fly alone or to fly the make and model of the plane. During these flights, which took place in the middle of the night, he also kept the transponder of the Bonanza turned off, which meant the plane did not send signals to air traffic control to provide information on the plane’s location, altitude and speed.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Perry Police Department with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.