Small Plane Lands on Florida Highway

[FlyingPhotog]

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/6396074/detail.html

NAVARRE, Fla. -- A single-engine plane made an emergency landing during the morning commute on a busy Florida highway, and the whole thing was caught on tape.

The incident happened Friday in Navarre, which is in Florida's panhandle.

Gas station security camera footage shows the plane just after it landed on Highway 98.

Upon landing, the plane bumped a sport utility vehicle with a family of five inside. However, no one was injured.

The pilot said his engine stopped and he tried to make it it to a nearby landing strip, but couldn't.

[Chris@YYZ]

looks like there were no real injuries, but where did the gear go? wouldn't he have lowered the gear first?

[JordanD]

My guess is that he didn't want the gear slowing him up and putting him into a position where he would stall and crash.

[bloodhound96]

only thing I can think of with the gear, is that he wanted to stop in the absolute shortest distance possible. no gear will help out a lot with that.

[Van Hoolio]

Better gliding distance with no gear.

[ptbodale]

With the engine not producing any power he would not have sufficient power to lower the gear.

[bloodhound96]

With the engine not producing any power he would not have suffucient power to lower the gear.

Shouldn't need power to lower the gear, there would be an emergency gear release of some sort I'm sure, but I think that Van Hoolio is right, better glide with the gear retracted. Forget what I said about stopping in the shortest distance.

[Chris@YYZ]

ah, yeah, now that I use my brain and think that makes sense.

[uy707]

Shouldn't need power to lower the gear, there would be an emergency gear release of some sort I'm sure, but I think that Van Hoolio is right, better glide with the gear retracted. Forget what I said about stopping in the shortest distance.

Requiring a lot of energy, using the rescue muscle powered hand crank might have also been a deterant !!!
Alain