Marcus Schrenker Intentionally Crashed A Plane In The Florida Panhandle

The Indiana man who bailed out of a Piper PA46 Malibu and allowed it to crash in an attempt to fake his own death was sentenced Wednesday to 51 months in a federal prison, and ordered to pay more than $34,000 in restitution to the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as $871,000 to Harley Davidson Credit Corporation, the lien holder on the plane. He had pleaded guilty to destruction of an aircraft and causing the Coast Guard to respond when no help was needed.

Schrenker departed from Anderson, Indiana on January 11th, saying he was traveling to Destin, Florida. He contacted ATC while flying over Alabama saying his windshield had imploded and he was bleeding, and didn't think he would make his destination.  He made course corrections to Harpersville, Alabama where he had stored a motorcycle, set the autopilot, and bailed out of the plane near Childersberg, Alabama.

Three Coast Guard helicopters and two cutters were dispatched in an attempt to assist Schrenker, and two F-15's were scrambled to track the plane. It eventually crashed near the Blackwater River in East Milton Florida, narrowly missing several homes. They reported an intact windshield and an open door. When the plane eventually crashed, investigators found no blood in the cockpit.

Schrenker was traced by parachute cords cut from trees by the coast guard. He was later arrested in a Florida campground on outstanding warrants from Indiana.

Piper Malibu File Photo

CNN reports Schrenker is wanted in Indiana on charges of defrauding investors through three businesses he owned there. He has been charged with one felony count each of an unlawful act by a compensated adviser and unlawful transaction by an investment adviser. Indiana authorities believe he hatched the plot after the Indiana Secretary Of State's office searched his business and home December 31st.

FMI: http://www.in.gov/sos