New Jersey man allegedly stole a plane and crashed it in Atlantic County

Robert Wagner is accused of stealing the aircraft from its hanger. He also is facing charges for two burglaries in Corbin City, investigators say.

Robert Wagner, 42, of Point Pleasant, was arrested for allegedly stealing a plane and crashing it in Corbin City, police say. He is also charged with two other burglaries.
Thom Carroll/For PhillyVoice

A New Jersey man allegedly stole a plane and crashed it in the woods near Corbin City earlier this week, police said. 

Robert Wagner, 42, of Point Pleasant, has been charged with burglary, trespassing, obstruction of justice and other offenses, NBC10 reported. He also faces charges for two other burglaries in Corbin City. 


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New Jersey State Police responded to reports of a suspicious man walking out of a wooded area near Route 50 and the 300 block of Main Street at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Wagner allegedly told the troopers that he had crashed his plane in a nearby grassy field but would not provide his name. The troopers arrested him for obstruction.

State police determined that Wagner was wanted by Pemberton Police for allegedly stealing a Quad City Ultralight Challenger 2 plane from a hanger Tuesday. The registration for that plane matched the one that Wagner had crashed. 

Police said Wagner has confessed to stealing the aircraft and to two burglaries in Corbin City. He is being held in Atlantic County.

Another plane crash took place in Atlantic County last week. A plane piloted by John Austin Bryan, of Florida, struck a tree in Galloway Township after Bryan deployed the aircraft's parachute due to engine trouble. He was the only person on board and exited safely.