A single-engine Lancair 360 plane with only the pilot on board experienced engine problems and had to make an emergency landing on a highway near the Raleigh Executive Jetport at Sanford-Lee County Airport in Sanford, North Carolina. The plane was traveling from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina when the incident occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating the cause of the engine failure. The plane struck two SUVs as it landed on U.S. Route 1, but only one vehicle sustained minor damage and no injuries were reported. The pilot reported that he experienced a prop failure which led to the engine failure and resulted in the emergency landing. The landing gear of the plane was not deployed, causing it to land on its belly.
The Moncure Fire Department Chief, Robert Shi, expressed gratitude that the incident only involved property damage and no injuries. He mentioned that U.S. Route 1 is heavily traveled each afternoon, so the situation could have been much worse. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, one of the drivers whose vehicle was clipped by the plane filed a report. An eyewitness, Chris Sealey, saw the plane flying low without landing gear and initially thought it was a strange-looking car from a distance. He stated that the plane was flying mere feet off the ground and had minimal space to land safely. Sealey mentioned that there was no explosion following the incident, but the traffic on both sides of the road was in chaos due to the plane’s emergency landing.
The incident involving the small plane landing on a highway near the North Carolina airport received attention due to the potential dangers and risks involved. Despite the scary experience, there were no injuries reported, and only minimal damage to the vehicles hit by the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration’s investigation will help determine the cause of the engine failure and any potential safety measures that may need to be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future. The pilot’s quick thinking and skilled emergency landing likely prevented a more severe outcome, as landing a plane without the landing gear deployed is a challenging and risky maneuver that could have resulted in significant injuries or worse if not executed correctly.
The Moncure Fire Department Chief acknowledged that the situation could have been much worse, considering the high volume of traffic on U.S. Route 1 at the time of the emergency landing. The response from emergency services and the lack of injuries in this incident are considered fortunate outcomes given the potential hazards of a plane landing on a busy highway. The eyewitness account provided by Chris Sealey gives insight into the tense moments leading up to the emergency landing and the impact it had on the surrounding traffic. His description of the low-flying plane without landing gear highlights the skill and precision required by the pilot to safely bring the aircraft down in a challenging situation.
Overall, the incident involving the small plane’s emergency landing on a highway in North Carolina serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of air travel and the importance of pilots being prepared for potential emergencies. The lack of injuries in this incident is a positive outcome, but it also underscores the need for continued vigilance and safety measures to prevent accidents. The response from emergency services and the cooperation of the drivers affected by the incident contributed to a successful resolution with minimal damage. As the investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration progresses, more details may emerge regarding the cause of the engine failure and any lessons learned that could improve aviation safety in the future.
