Pilot arrested after Cape May, New Jersey beach landing

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Pilot arrested after landing plane on Cape May beach. Watch this report from Action News at 4pm on June 27, 2018.

CAPE MAY, N.J. -- The pilot who fled after landing his plane on a beach in Cape May, New Jersey has been arrested.

James Dahlen Jr., 51, surrendered to authorities on Wednesday morning. He was charged with criminal trespass and faces up to 18 months in prison.

Watch the report from Bob Brooks on Action News at 4 p.m. on June 25, 2018.

Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said additional charges may be filed.

Dahlen is a mechanic for Paramount Air Services, the banner plane company that owns the Piper PA12. The owner of Paramount Air says the pilot is her stepson, who took the plane after-hours on Sunday night.

Several eyewitnesses caught video of the plane in flight. In one video, taken in Wildwood, the pilot can be seen coming dangerously close to homes, boats along the bay and even crowded beaches.

Courtesy: Brianna Lockwood

Arrest warrant issued for pilot: as seen on Action News at 4 p.m., June 26, 2018.

People say they thought he was just someone trying to show off, but then it looked like he could crash.

"It looked like it was going to be bad," said Kyle Kreisler. "He kept going up and nosediving."

Clark Morris of Wildwood says the plane was "probably three feet above the antennas of my boat. I was ready to jump overboard."

Officials say Dahlen flew farther south, and that just before 8 p.m. the plane landed on the beach inside the secure Coast Guard training facility in Cape May.

Witnesses recall seeing erratic plane. Bob Brooks reports during Action News at 12:30 p.m. on June 25, 2018.

At first they say the pilot tried to take off back into the air from the beach but failed. Officers immediately responded, but when they got to the plane it was empty.

Officials say Dahlen is seen on surveillance video getting out and running away.

The plane wasn't damaged in the incident.