370 Citabria Theft, Beach Landing and Recovery with Rachael Webster & DC Midair Update + GA News
Aviation News Talk podcast
Glass Cockpit Publishing
4.8 • 730 Ratings
🗓️ 20 February 2025
⏱️ 68 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Rachael Webster recounts the surreal experience of having her airplane stolen from Palo Alto Airport. Initially mistaking the tampered aircraft for a kind gesture, she later received a call from the club informing her that her Citabria had been stolen and flown toward San Carlos with its transponder off. The aircraft was eventually discovered, nose-down but largely intact, on a beach south of Half Moon Bay. The thief, a man calling himself “Sun Rock,” had allegedly sought to expose airport security flaws. After landing, he went for tacos and was promptly arrested.
The recovery process was complex, requiring approvals from multiple agencies, delaying removal and worsening damage due to saltwater exposure. Although insurance nearly totaled the plane, it was instead repaired after months of delays due to maintenance backlogs.
Despite the ordeal, Rachael remains positive, humorously considering marketing her aircraft as the only tailwheel trainer with "real beach landing experience." She has since launched a specialized tailwheel flight school, Next Level Tailwheel, incorporating Citabrias and Kitfox aircraft. Reflecting on the experience, she emphasizes patience in aircraft repairs, valuing skilled trades, and accepting that determined thieves will find a way—bike locks and all.
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | You may have heard a little about Rachel Webster's story about her Satabria being stolen last year and left on the beach. |
| 0:08.7 | Today we'll talk with Rachel about what that was like and about the long repair process. |
| 0:13.7 | Also after the news, we'll give you a number of updates on the Reagan National Midair Collision, |
| 0:18.3 | and we'll talk about the limitations of portable ADSB receivers |
| 0:21.3 | and why they won't show you all of the traffic around you. |
| 0:25.0 | Hello again and welcome to Aviation News Talk where we talk in general aviation. |
| 0:28.9 | My name is Max Truscott. I've been flying for 50 years. I'm the author of several books |
| 0:32.4 | in the 2008 National Flight Instructor of the Year, and my mission is to help you become |
| 0:36.8 | the safest possible |
| 0:38.1 | pilot. Last week in episode 368, we talked with former NTSB investigator, Jeff Gazetti, about the |
| 0:45.0 | NTSB investigation process. And later in the week, we replayed an NTSB press conference that revealed |
| 0:51.3 | new black box data about the mid-air collision at Reagan National. |
| 0:55.5 | So if you didn't hear those episodes, you may want to check them out at aviation news |
| 0:58.9 | dot com slash 368 and 369. And if you're new to the show, take a moment right now in whatever |
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| 1:11.8 | episode is downloaded for free. And see if you know any of these people who've recently |
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| 1:21.0 | John Mahaney, and these one-time donors, Charles Thompson, Brooks Maxidon, Richard Krulik, |
| 1:26.9 | and Scott Wilson. |
| 1:28.3 | And if you'd like to hear your name next week, sign up now to support the show by going out to |
| 1:32.9 | AviationNewstalk.com slash support. |
... |
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