BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. - Two 14-year-old boys escaped with minor injuries after crash-landing a small plane that authorities say they stole from an airport hangar.

The single-engine Mooney M20C belonged to one of the boys’ parents, and the pair was trying to run away from their homes, said Cindy Beavers, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

“There was a disagreement between the boys and their parents, and (the boys) decided to run away,” she said.

The boys took the plane from Big Bear Airport Sunday afternoon, authorities said. The airport has no control tower and pilots are not required to check in with anyone before taking off, said Garry Dokter, the airport’s general manager.

Two pilots saw the boys taxiing and called the plane’s owner and the Sheriff’s Department.

The plane ditched in Joshua Tree National Park between 5:30 and 6 p.m. The boys suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene by rangers, according to park officials.

Officials said they didn’t know why the plane went down but speculated it ran out of gas.

Although neither boy has a pilot’s license , the one who piloted the plane flew regularly with his father, Dokter said.

The boys were arrested for investigation of airplane theft and burglary, Beavers said. They were booked into San Bernardino County Juvenile Hall on Monday.

-The Associated Press

Yikes thats scary hope they get what they deserve as they could have been killed or even worse kill someone else :cry:

Its stupid when people do this as its very unkind and very dangerous

that is a fast plane... 8) those kids are definitely grounded for life...

man screw that, [I] bet [their] dad is pissed beyond reasonable thought, [I] know those planes come old and new but even then you [ain't] [getting] one for less than 100k[,] if you want it to last. [I'm] sorry if there are some of you who [don't] agree with spanking but [I] think that certainly calls for [getting] that butt beat to the whitemeat. man, [I'm] glad they are safe but maybe they A. Should have had a plan for landing(where they suicidal?), or B. Never did it in the first place, or C. Steal the car? OK well maybe A and C are unreasonable but it [is] better than just hoping in with no plan of action.

LOL, someone's going to get a spanking. haha
If that happens, those kids would be smart to file child abuse charges.
Stupid kids, they always win.

I do not know whether these kids were foolhardy or brave or just plain stupid.. but they are very lucky to be alive after that.. i wonder though if they will consider going for their pilots licence..when they grow up..

"Go get me a switch from that tree... and make it a big one!"

I think they will be grounded for some time, sorry about the pun to that :lol:

Hope this taught them a lesson never play with big toys till you know what you are doing

Here's an update with a picture:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11597391/from/RL.1/

Nah, the plane doesn't look to badly damaged, just the front. But the main thing I got out of that article was that whole "pilots, report suspicious activity" encouraged by AOPA. Sure enough that's what two people did by calling the sheriff. I better not hear GA and security issues from the media.

Agreed, and that system works a gazillion times better than TSA. Without costing the taxpayers a dime.

I am no expert but it does not look too badly damaged.. although i do not think that the boy's dad.. who owned the plane is going to be very happy with his son..and i hope they are both punished for it though.. :!:

Whoa! Two fourteen year olds in a plane by themselves, just imagine what they got up to while they were in the air!

lol sounds really funny. i wouldn't like to be one of those 14 year old kids hahahaha. they are going to get their a** wiped by their parents haha.

I was thirteen wen I went up in a C172 with an instructor ofcource, and the only thing bothering me was the taxiing everything else was basic. I'm not suprised

Well it just goes to show the mentality of people these days. I can never understand why people steal. As for the teenagers they're lucky they're not dead.

I was meaning that if they were dumb enough to steal a plane then they're probably going to be doing some crazy stupid stuff in the air!

You would think they'd have learnt to wipe by now