AN ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT owned by Billy Patterson of Fairfield sustained damage last week when it was stolen out of a Teague Municipal Airport hangar and crashed into Teague City Lake. An ultralight aircraft hangared at Teague Municipal Airport sustained extensive damage last week when it was stolen and crashed into Teague City Lake.

Theft of the aircraft, a Rans S-14, was discovered Wednesday, July 21, by someone fishing at the lake, Teague Police Chief Dennis Cox reports.

Cox says that the plane crashed in 3-4 feet of water and ownership was determined from the tail number.

The pilot has not been located, the police chief.

Owner Billy Patterson of Fairfield says that the aircraft was taken from a hangar after the thief gained entry by breaking into a rear rollup door, and that the thief had to move an airplane to get the craft out of the hangar.

Cox reports that an aircraft was seen flying in the vicinity of the lake Tuesday.

Classified as an ultralight, flying the aircraft does not require a private pilot’s license.

The craft has a fixed wing and an enclosed cockpit, and is powered by a 65- horsepower engine. Although it is certified as an ultralight Patterson says that he made several upgrades that would qualify it as an experimental aircraft.

The Fairfield man says that he has owned the Rans for about two years, buying it in Corsicana and moving it to Teague.

“It’s a well-built aircraft,” Patterson says. “Of all the aircraft I have flown, this is the most fun.”

Patterson reports that the aircraft had gasoline when he retrieved it last Thursday and speculates that the thief was flying with full flaps deployed, which would decrease its performance and possibly contributed to the crash.

Damage is largely to the cockpit and landing gear and Patterson is determining whether the aircraft can be repaired.

“I hope it’s less than

5,000,” the owner says.

Tampering with aircraft or airport facilities is a federal crime.

Patterson notes that this is the second time an ultralight of his has been taken at the Teague airport and damaged.