Pilot suspects crop duster plane sabotaged - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Pilot suspects crop duster plane sabotaged

Posted: Updated:
  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 1:31 PM EDT2013-06-19 17:31:17 GMT
    Moultrie Technical College unveiled its new $9.5 million, 46,000 square-foot Health Sciences Building Wednesday. The brand new structure is located at the school's Veterans Parkway Campus (VPC) in Moultrie. Representatives
    Moultrie Technical College unveiled its new $9.5 million, 46,000 square-foot Health Sciences Building Wednesday. The brand new structure is located at the school's Veterans Parkway Campus in Moultrie.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:10 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:10:40 GMT
    Ravi Mikel Givens was arrested Tuesday and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He is being held in the Dougherty County jail. Givens, who played ball at Westover and Stetson
    Agents say that police responded to the apartment because of a burglar alarm. Officers found the back door broken open and went inside. That's where they detected a strong odor of marijuana, and saw pot in plain view.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:53 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:53:35 GMT
    Officials say 38-year-old Melissa Right was traveling south on the highway when her SUV drifted across the center line and hit a tractor trailer.
    Officials say 38-year-old Melissa Right was traveling south on the highway when her SUV drifted across the center line and hit a tractor trailer.

By  Stephanie Springer  - bio | email

DOUGLAS, GA (WALB) –A Douglas pilot says he thinks someone tried to sabotage his crop duster by putting blasting sand in the fuel tank.

Lance McKinnon says he first suspected sabotage in the summertime, when he had mechanical problems with his plane.

Two weeks later, as he was getting his aircraft inspected, he noticed large amounts of what appeared to be blasting sand in fuel tank.

He called in an outside source, who confirmed it did appear something was put in the system.

Now McKinnon is waiting for federal officials to launch an official investigation.

"It could be a random act of vandalism, I don't know what would motivate someone to vandalize or sabotage which could cost someone their life," said McKinnon.

He wants to warn other pilots and operators to check their fuel tanks and filters before taking off.

He says a new engine will cost him close to 40,000 dollars.

©2010 WALB News. All rights reserved.   Feedback