Hijacked Cessna 172 Ended Up in the Side of a Hangar After Failed Taxi Attempt

An early-morning aircraft theft at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) ended quickly, and surprisingly without leaving the ground, when a stolen LA Flight Academy Cessna 172 crashed into the side of a hangar. Authorities say the training aircraft struck the building while taxiing, causing damage to both the airplane and the hangar but leaving everyone unharmed.

Los Angeles Airport Police say the event began around 4:00 am, when the suspect allegedly “trespassed a private leasehold and onto Van Nuys general aviation airport,” according to LAX Police. He then found his way into one of LA Flight Academy’s Cessna 172 trainer aircraft and, before the clock struck 5:00 am, left it in the side of one of Van Nuys’s hangars.

The suspect was quickly identified as 37-year-old Ceffeareno Logan, who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of burglary and theft of an aircraft. LAXPD said officers quickly located and detained the individual after the unauthorized aircraft movement was reported. The FBI’s Los Angeles field office also confirmed that agents responded to assist with the investigation.

Investigators believe Logan didn’t get very far. According to law enforcement and local reports, the aircraft was taxiing when its left wing struck part of a hangar, causing the nose to swing sharply into the building. Photos from the scene show a sizable hole in the hangar wall, with the Cessna embedded nose-first inside.

Video taken after the crash showed the aircraft with a damaged propeller, later moved into a nearby building. The flight school’s owner said the propeller was destroyed and the engine is no longer operable. At a low speed or not, the incident left significant (and expensive) damage… especially for a $450,000 aircraft that had reportedly only been in service for a few months.

LA Flight Academy owner Anthony Nercessian said the suspect forced entry through the front door of the school and found the keys to the Cessna 172.

"I'm glad it ended this way with no casualties," Nercessian said. "I just can't understand how someone would think of stealing an airplane."

FMI: https://www.iflyvny.com/