A police report indicates that the pilot of a small plane forced to make an emergency landing on a highway near Commerce did so because the plane was running out of fuel.
The incident occurred late Sunday morning when the pilot of a single engine Cessna made the decision to land the plane.
The four passengers on the plane were not injured, nor was anyone on the ground, officials said.
The plane was occupied by two adults and two children en route from Charleston, S.C.
The Commerce Police Department report names the owner of the plane, Donald S. Moffett of Cumming, as the pilot. Moffett had recently purchased the plane.
“Moffett stated the plane was possibly out of gas,” the report reads. “The FAA arrived ... spoke with the pilot and assessed the airplane. ... (A Federal Aviation Administration official) stated that the FAA and the (National Transportation Safety Board) would have no need to be further involved.”
The plane was moved from U.S. Highway 441 to Highway 59 and parked behind the Tractor Supply Building overnight, according to the police report.
Moffett was then given a ride to a gas station to purchase fuel for the plane.
“Once the gas was in the plane, Moffett was able to start the engine,” the report reads. “Moffett was then given a courtesy ride to Taco Bell.”
AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED ON A HIGHWAY, NEAR COMMERCE, GA
http://www.asias.faa.gov
http://registry.faa.gov/N3158T
COMMERCE, Ga. — A small plane had to make an emergency landing Sunday morning after the pilot reported a loss of power.
According to Commerce police, the single engine Cessna landed on US-441 about 2 miles south of the 441 exit off Interstate 85.
Police Chief John Gaissert said there were four people on the plane, two men and two children. He said they were returning from Charleston, South Carolina to Gainesville, Georgia after attending a scouting event.
Gaissert said the pilot noticed an intermittent loss of power on the plane and felt he wouldn't be able to safely land at the Jackson County Airport. He was able to land the plane on the highway passing between two cars.
There were no injuries.
The plane was towed off the highway and will remain there until FAA investigators arrive.
Source: http://www.wsbtv.com
