Student Pilot Faces Decade in Prison for Stealing Plane From Georgia Hangar, Reckless Interstate Flights

A student pilot who admitted to stealing a private plane from a hangar in Perry, Georgia, and flying it to North Carolina and back, including a dangerous flight through fog requiring specialized instrument training he lacked, is now facing up to ten years in federal prison.

Rufus Crane, 27, of Coconut Creek, Florida, pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025, to one count of interstate transportation of stolen aircraft. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case, with sentencing scheduled for September 17. Crane faces a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000. 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.”

According to court documents, Crane stole a Bonanza A-36 aircraft from the Perry Airport in Perry, Georgia, on May 4, 2024. Despite only holding a Student Pilot Certificate and lacking the necessary endorsements for solo flights or for that specific make and model of plane, Crane flew the single-engine aircraft to the JAARS-Townsend Airport in Waxhaw, North Carolina, landing at approximately 12:42 a.m. on May 4.

Crane departed Waxhaw on May 5 at approximately 3:14 a.m. After an attempted refueling stop in South Carolina, he began his return flight to Perry. Upon arriving in Perry at approximately 5:47 a.m., he found the area too foggy to land safely. Crane then operated the aircraft under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), relying solely on instruments rather than visual cues—a skillset he was not certified for. Due to the fog, he diverted to Cochran Municipal Airport in Cochran, Georgia, refueled, and finally landed the stolen aircraft back in Perry at around 11:01 a.m. on May 5, returning it to the hangar.

During these middle-of-the-night flights, Crane also kept the Bonanza’s transponder turned off, preventing the plane from sending vital signals to air traffic control about its location, altitude, and speed.

Captain James Jones of the Perry Police Department emphasized the danger posed by Crane’s actions: “The theft and unauthorized operation of an aircraft is not just a property crime—it’s a serious threat to public safety. 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.”

Joseph Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southern Region, added, “A situation like this can escalate quickly when critical aviation safety laws and regulations are brazenly disregarded. 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.”

The 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.