Maserati Was Driving On Taxiway, Went Out Of Control

A recently-restored Chinese military trainer was extensively damaged in its hangar at Mesa, Arizona's Falcon Field Saturday when a 21-year-old man driving a Maserati on a taxiway apparently lost control of the car and crashed into the building.

Larry Pine had recently completed a restoration of his airplane following an accident five years ago. He told the Arizona Republic that the airplane had a new Russian engine as well as a "modernized" cockpit. He put a value of between $165,000 and $220,000 on the airplane.

Local police said the car, which was being driven by Brandon Passey, was traveling about 65 miles per hour when it crashed into the hangar door. The car's owner is the uncle of the person who was in the passenger's seat when the accident occurred. The owner, Gregory Crane, said he stored the Maserati at Falcon Field, and had given his nephew, Andrew Smith, his airport access card so that he and Passey could drive the car. Neither Passey or Smith was injured. Police did not immediately ticket Passey for the accident, but said it is "under investigation."

Pine said the impact knocked the metal hangar door off its supports and bent it "like a paper clip." He said the airplane will have to be inspected to determine the extent of the damage. He said if the wing spar is bent, it will be a total loss.

FMI: www.mesaaz.gov/falcon_field