Cessna 152, N89432: Incident occurred July 02, 2014 near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Plane removed after landing on beach  

A small plane made an emergency landing Wednesday night on a beach in Cape Henlopen State Park near Lewes, state officials said.

No one was injured and damage to the plane was described as minimal.

The 7:30 p.m. emergency landing was under joint local investigation by Delaware State Police and the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, state police Master Cpl. Gary E. Fournier said.

But officials said Thursday morning no charges would be filed.

The Federal Aviation Administration also is reviewing the incident.

The plane set down between Gordons Pond and Herring Point Overlook in part of the beach closed to protect piping plovers, Chief Wayne Kline of Delaware State Parks enforcement told The News Journal.

None of the endangered birds were injured nor any of their nests disturbed, he said.

The pilot was identified as Robert Danzi, 65, of Selbyville, and his passenger as Joanne Guilfoil, 64, of Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Danzi was flying a 1978 Cessna 152 – a single-engine, two-seater – from Ocean City, Maryland, to Georgetown, coming up the Atlantic Coast, Kline said.

"When he hit the point at Cape Henlopen, he started to turn inland to go to Georgetown and began to experience engine trouble," Kline said.

"He turned back around and started flying along the beach, looking for a place to set down," he said.

"He saw surf-fishing vehicles on the beach, then saw a place where there was no activity," Kline said.

Danzi "got over the plover fencing and set it down, back end first, then front end," Kline said.

When the front came down, he said, "the propeller went into the sand.... The plane's tail end lurched up and came to rest on the wheels.

"It didn't flip," he said.

Only the propeller was damaged, Kline said.

The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday night authorized removal of the plane from the beach, Kline said.

It was removed Thursday morning with the help of state park staff.

The plane is owned by Nancy Ulanowicz of Owings, Md., according to online FAA records.

Story, video and photo gallery:   http://www.delawareonline.com
 

AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED ON A BEACH NEAR REHOBOTH BEACH, DE

Flight Standards District Office:  FAA Philadelphia FSDO-17

http://www.asias.faa.gov/N89432

Nancy Ulanowicz: http://registry.faa.gov/N89432

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A small plane made an emergency landing Wednesday night on a beach near Lewes, state police said.

No injuries were reported, Master Cpl. Gary E. Fournier said.

The small plane landed about 7:30 p.m., with two people aboard, Fournier said.

Theincident is under investigation by state police and the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Fournier said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and/or the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to investigate the emergency, he said.

The landing site was located north of Gordons Pond, near the Herring Point Overlook at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Story and Photo Gallery:  http://www.delmarvanow.com