Florida man admits to stealing plane from Perry and flying across states without license

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Florida man admitted in federal court this week to stealing a plane from a Perry hangar and flying it across multiple states without proper credentials, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

According to a news release, 27-year-old Rufus Crane of Coconut Creek, Florida, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of interstate transportation of stolen aircraft. Sentencing is scheduled for September. 17. Crane faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

Court documents say Crane stole a Bonanza A-36 aircraft from the Perry Airport on May 4, 2024, despite holding only a Student Pilot Certificate with no endorsements to fly solo or operate that specific type of plane. Crane flew to JAARS-Townsend Airport in Waxhaw, North Carolina, landing around 12:42 a.m. He departed around 3:14 a.m. on May 5, stopped in South Carolina to try to refuel, then returned to Georgia.

According to the release, Crane attempted to land in Perry around 5:47 a.m. but couldn’t see the runway due to fog. He flew using the plane’s instrument system despite lacking the proper training. He landed briefly in Cochran to refuel, then returned the aircraft to the hangar in Perry at approximately 11:01 a.m.

Officials said Crane turned off the plane’s transponder during the flights, preventing air traffic control from tracking its location, altitude or speed.

“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,” Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker said. “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.”

Captain James Jones with the Perry Police Department said Crane’s actions “placed countless lives at risk across multiple states.”