Domestic terrorist

[nathanm]

Recent reports are that he ripped out the seats of the plane and stole a drum of avgas to put on board. So, yes it was more than a simple act of rage. I wonder what folks at the airfield thought he was doing? Is it really that lax at these small airfields?

It's not uncommon for folks to rig up an auxiliary fuel tank for long flights. Stealing the avgas would obviously not be normal.

[Conan71]

Yeah, he was insane.  Sane people don't fly planes into occupied buildings on purpose and sane people don't kill estranged spouses or S/O's so someone else can't have them.

[Hoss]

Paper burns really well, even in the absence of any accelerant. Douse a little avgas on the carpet, desks, and things, while physically breaking open filing cabinets and scattering flammables about and you'll get a pretty good sized fire. Nothing that will take down an entire building, mind you, but a surprisingly large fire nonetheless.

But paper doesn't burn so black like that.  That's hydrocarbon burning there.  Unless all the paper was full of black ink.

[waterboy]

Yeah, he was insane.  Sane people don't fly planes into occupied buildings on purpose and sane people don't kill estranged spouses or S/O's so someone else can't have them.

So, had he lived, you would not be able to prosecute him for the crime. Sanity exists on a lot of levels. Disturbed? Maladjusted? Yes. Insane?

Strawberry Alarm Clock?....."a yardstick for lunatics, one point of view"

[Conan71]

So, had he lived, you would not be able to prosecute him for the crime. Sanity exists on a lot of levels. Disturbed? Maladjusted? Yes. Insane?

Strawberry Alarm Clock?....."a yardstick for lunatics, one point of view"

Not true.  He could have been prosecuted.  His attorney could have pulled an insanity defense and had he been successful, this creep would have gone to a maximum security Ho-Ho Hotel.

I'm just not quite certain how you arrived at a conclusion such an act isn't insanity.

[BLKHWK]

 You would have a hard time getting a 400+ pound drum of avgas up onto the wing, and then through the door. Not just due to the weight, but the size of the drum itself. Definitely not a one-man job.

[waterboy]

Not true.  He could have been prosecuted.  His attorney could have pulled an insanity defense and had he been successful, this creep would have gone to a maximum security Ho-Ho Hotel.

I'm just not quite certain how you arrived at a conclusion such an act isn't insanity.

Insane people don't have many friends, if any. Those who know them are rarely surprised that they would end up badly. They are so divorced from reality that everyday activities like bathing and conversing are difficult or impossible. They smell, they ramble, they exhibit inappropriate behaviors that have no meaning to anyone but themselves. The act of flying a plane into a building may be considered insanity to us, because it accomplished nothing of any value but that is an assessment from a different level of sanity. Had he crashed it into the headquarters of a building housing Osama Bin Laden, he's suddenly a sober hero. Or he may have had a temporary insanity though I doubt it. The reality is that it was a suicidal solution for his personal problems. One coupled with revenge. A bad one. A permanent solution for temporary problems that he could not cope with. People who commit suicide are not necessarily insane. He was in need of counseling, therapy, hospitalization or at the very least competent legal and tax representation.

That's what I meant Conan. People in need of help slip into a different reality where people no longer are viewed as living, breathing sentient beings. Other lives have little value for them. They are merely impediments or acquisitions. Reality is a sliding scale for them. Perhaps others with more clinical definitions could correct or amend my remarks.

[Conan71]

Potato, poh-tah-toh...

[Red Arrow]

Strawberry Alarm Clock?....."a yardstick for lunatics, one point of view"

That goes back a few years.

[Red Arrow]

You would have a hard time getting a 400+ pound drum of avgas up onto the wing, and then through the door. Not just due to the weight, but the size of the drum itself. Definitely not a one-man job.

I hope I'm not giving instructions here but...

Put the drum in the plane empty, then fill it up.

[Hoss]

I hope I'm not giving instructions here but...

Put the drum in the plane empty, then fill it up.

That likely wouldn't draw as much attention, especially from a distance since the tanks on a Cherokee are in-wing.

[Conan71]

Not that it really matters but do we know if it was a Cherokee 140, 180, or a six?

[Hoss]

Not that it really matters but do we know if it was a Cherokee 140, 180, or a six?

Reports say it was a Piper PA28 (Cherokee, single engine piston, four seats).  I trained for several months in one until switching to a Cessna 172 before it became cost-prohibitive for me to continue on.

Edit: misread it Colin...it was evidently a Dakota (236), which was a forerunner to the Cherokee 6.  Had a 235 HP Lycoming engine and according to my sources had a max fuel capacity of 72g.

[nathanm]

That likely wouldn't draw as much attention, especially from a distance since the tanks on a Cherokee are in-wing.

Why would it draw attention at all? While it's not exactly normal, it's not abnormal either to put an extended range tank in most light planes.

I know I've seen them in the entry-level Cessnas, anyway.

[Red Arrow]

Cessna 150s/152s had a factory option of long range tanks in the wings, just bigger tanks in the same place.  About 38 gal vs 26 total fuel (including unusable).

To be legal, you can't just put an extra tank in the plane. The FAA wants to know about fuel system modifications.  That doesn't mean it doesn't happen.  I don't imagine someone smuggling drugs is going to worry about the plane being up to date on the paperwork.  They will have bigger things to worry about if they get ramp checked.  Really long range mods, like to fly to Hawaii, require a lot of mods.  In flight engine oil replenishment can be an issue.