Man accused of pumping aviation fuel into car

[July 30, 2008]  SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Maybe he thought it would make his car fly.

A 20-year-old man is accused of breaking into a small airport and trying to fill up his car's gas tank with aviation gasoline.

"We've had people try and steal gas here in the past," said Jim Meide, who works at Reid-Hillview Airport. "It's really stupid. Put aviation gas in your car and it's so heavily leaded that eventually your valves warp and you'll end up with some very expensive repairs."

The suspect was arrested Sunday night on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and attempted theft. But he probably wasn't trying to save money.

The aviation fuel in the pumps used for aircraft and race cars was going for $5.97 a gallon, accessed only by a credit card, authorities said.

"Sometimes," Meide said, "these people have the notion that since it's racing fuel it'll make their car go faster."

Airport officials are investigating the security breach.

"This is an authorized area and he was driving around on the field where any airplane has the right of way," Meide said. "It could have been very dangerous if he had pulled in front of a taxiing plane."

[Associated Press]

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