Pilot killed in crash after allegedly stealing plane from Texas flight school

Logan Timothy James, 23, was pronounced dead after he crashed a stolen plane into an open field, authorities said

Small plane crashes in Plano, TX, populated area

Plano first responders are responding to a small plane crash near Park Boulevard and Midway Road.

A 23-year-old man is dead after stealing a plane from a Dallas-area flight school and crashing it in a rural area of Northeast Texas.

Authorities identified the pilot as Logan Timothy James from Stokesdale, North Carolina. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday about nine miles northeast of Telephone, Texas, near the Red River in Fannin County, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) obtained by Fox 4 Dallas. 

DPS stated that a preliminary investigation shows a Cessna 172 was stolen from ATP Flight School in Addison on Wednesday night. From there, the plane was flown more than 80 miles northeast toward Paris.

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A photo of a Cessna 172 flying

FILE- A pilot is dead after stealing a Cessna 172 and crashing it into a field in rural Northeast Texas, authorities said. (Getty Images)

James was the only person in the aircraft and no other injuries were reported, according to investigators.

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National Transportation Safety Board logo

The National Transportation Safety Board logo and signage are seen at a news conference at NTSB headquarters in Washington, Dec. 18, 2017.  (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

DPS told Fox News Digital that the National Transportation Safety Board is now leading the investigation into the crash and is being assisted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Authored by Stepheny Price via FoxNews January 25th 2024