Pilot who landed plane on Coast Guard beach surrenders

<p>The man who authorities say was piloting a single-engine plane that illegally landed on a Coast Guard beach in New Jersey has turned himself in.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jun 28, 2018, 12:26 AM

Updated 2,369 days ago

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(AP) - The man who authorities say was piloting a single-engine plane that illegally landed on a Coast Guard beach in New Jersey has turned himself in.
Cape May County prosecutors say Jimmy Dahlen Jr. contacted them Wednesday. The 50-year-old Cape May Court House man is charged with criminal trespass, but could face more counts.
Dahlen is a mechanic for Paramount Air Services, the banner plane company that owns the Piper PA12. The company's president - who is also Dahlen's stepmother - has said he stole the plane Sunday night, though it's not clear why.
The plane landed on the beach of the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May around 8 p.m. Sunday. But authorities say Dahlen - who is a student pilot - fled the scene.
The plane wasn't damaged.
It wasn't known Wednesday if Dahlen has retained an attorney.
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