Scott Smith/City of Mesa
Mesa Mayor Scott Smith
"I went in for a landing, and next thing I know, the plane was shaking," he said. "I didn't know what was going on."
Smith quickly realized one of the tires on his 2004 Cirrus SR22-G2 had blown out. Knowing a plane stuck on the runway can halt airport operations, he said he used the momentum of his 80 to 90 mph landing speed to "drag (the plane) across the yellow line" and off the main runway.
By the time the aircraft came to a stop, the tire was "almost shredded down to the rim," but Smith and his sole passenger were fine. Emergency and repair personnel met them on the tarmac, towed the plane in and replaced the tire.
Smith on Tuesday morning tweeted a picture of the plane with an airport rescue truck behind it, "thank heavens for wide runways and good brakes" in the caption. He was back in Mesa that afternoon.
Smith has about 6-1/2 years of flight experience. He does two to three volunteer "Flights for Life" for United Blood Services a month and had traveled to Winslow and Flagstaff during his trip to drop off platelets.
Though he said "things could've turned out differently," the mayor said he and his friend "never felt like we were in danger."
He also felt lucky the problems started where they did.
"Winslow didn't have a tire mechanic," he said. "Who knows how long I would've been stuck there."
http://www.azcentral.com
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