An interesting story from a friend

[Robbie Roberts]

Simply as an aside, a story a friend and A&P up near Scranton related to me... Seems a gentleman from Ohio purchased a Cub which was based in NJ, and which was out of registration, having not been registered for many years, and also having sat, unattended, on the airfield for many years. Being an expeditious fellow, he decided to arrange to pick up a ferry permit in Harrisburg- his second mistake, as he planned to fly the aircraft there to pick it up! His illegal flight would probably have gone unnoticed had it not been for his first mistake: taking off in the subject aircraft in the first place! Apparently his preflight must have consisted of filling and kicking the tires, and wiggling the controls. After takeoff in North Jersey, he flew south westward, and proceeded to have an in-flight emergency, causing him to land on a stretch of highway in Pennsylvania. It appeared to be an empty fuel situation- and the police were prepared to allow him to refuel and fly off the highway. Until they asked for his paperwork- and found he was in an illegal status: at which point the aircraft was removed to the local airport, where my friend was tasked with giving the aircraft an annual, to insure it was airworthy. My friend's description of the aircraft as inspected is proof that some people are too stupid to survive, if left to their own devices... Apparently the fabric was in ok shape, but the engine was in need of a major overhaul- not for time, but for condition... The hapless flier had failed to look in the engine compartment and bird sanctuary. Had he done so, he may have noticed the condition of the spark plugs- rusted to the point of being almost nonexistant... There were other things as well, but my friend said once he got there, he stopped inspecting: and advised the owner it was not flying anywhere- at least not until it was restored...

This was around a year or so ago, and I do not know status of the a/c involved.

Just thought I'd share...

Robbie