"Wayne" wrote in message ...
Finally got to take a fairly long trip in my 175B this weekend. went
from HGR (Hagerstown, Md) to TTA (Sanford, Nc) Sure was better than driving,
uaually takes around 6-1/2 hours to drive (no accidents holding us up),
three pee stops (kids), 2 stop at McDonalds etc... Instead is was 2 hours,
24 minutes down, 2 hours 15 minutes back. Word of warning though for NC,
fuel prices don't include tax. Fuel was $2.80 per gallon, plus 7% tax. 26.3
gallons costed me 78.79!

I got there just at dark on Friday night, locked her up and left, the
line guy said he would have them fuel it up the next day. Came back Saturday
afternoon, around 4 and found my door open. Lock broken, yet nothing
missing. My thinking is that they may have feared I would come in at night
and leave without paying for the fuel so they broke the lock to get the name
from inside. ****ed me off very badly but what good would it do to bitch?
None was my thinking.

What could I have done to avoid this? I'd rather they locked my plane to
the tiedown than break my lock. I would have left them a credit card or paid
right away, the guy was leaving for the night and didn't feel like getting
the truck out or I would have got the fuel and paid for it right away. I
don't have any proof that they did it but with nothing missing (Garmin 196
sitting right there), it kind of makes me wonder. Beware of KTTA in Sanford
NC. Either they break your stuff, or they don't notice when others do.

I guarantee the FBO didn't break into your plane. No FBO would (I
believe it is a federal offense to tamper with an aircraft). Further,
it is standard practice to fuel and pay the next day or whenever you
return.

One of 3 things happened:
1. A thief broke into your plane.
2. The lock/latch mechanism broke and the wind opened the door
3. The door was never latched and the wind opened the door.

Regarding the fuel prices. $2.80 isn't bad, at least not in the
midwest. Check out http://www.airnav.com for listing of fuel prices.

-Nathan