Suspect arrested after crashing stolen Cessna C172 into hangar at Van Nuys Airport.

December 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM•1 min read

A 37-year-old suspect was arrested after allegedly stealing a Cessna C172 and crashing it into a hangar at Van Nuys Airport.

Key Points

1A suspect stole a Cessna C172 from a flight school building at Van Nuys Airport early Thursday morning after trespassing onto the private leasehold.
2The aircraft crashed into a hangar while taxiing, causing significant structural damage to the building and the plane but never becoming airborne.
3Los Angeles Airport Police arrested 37-year-old Ceffeareno Logan on charges including burglary and theft of the aircraft, with the FBI also responding to the scene.

A security breach and subsequent crash occurred at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in Los Angeles early Thursday morning when a suspect allegedly broke into a private leasehold and attempted to steal a single-engine Cessna C172 aircraft. The incident began around 4 a.m. when the individual gained unauthorized access to the general aviation facility. Approximately one hour later, the aircraft struck a hangar, causing visible damage to the structure and the plane itself.

The Los Angeles Airport Police (LAXPD) identified the suspect as 37-year-old Ceffeareno Logan. Logan was immediately taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of burglary and theft of an aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident involved the Cessna C172 striking the hangar. Furthermore, the FBI Los Angeles field office dispatched federal agents to the scene to assist with the investigation.

Investigators determined that the aircraft never successfully took off. Law enforcement officials believe the crash occurred while the suspect was attempting to taxi the plane, resulting in damage to the propeller and adjacent infrastructure. Van Nuys Airport, a major general aviation hub, is operated by Los Angeles World Airports.