CHINA GROVE — A Charlotte pilot made an emergency landing Friday in a field near the Deal Estates subdivision in China Grove without any damage to the plane or injury to himself or his passenger.
Allen McGee said the engine on the Cessna 172H Skyhawk blew as they were heading to Rowan County from Will Grove in Charlotte. He is co-owner of the plane and has flown the route before.
“The engine has a hole big enough to stick your fist through,” he said, describing the only damage to the plane.
McGee was convinced they wouldn’t be able to make it to Rowan County.
“I said a five-second prayer. That’s all I had time for,” he said.
The plane landed in the field, located along Lentz Road and Fred Lane, around 1 p.m.
McGee saw the tall grass, slowed the airplane down, pulled the flaps in and tried to avoid a house and power lines. He used the tall grass to slow the plane down, he said. He saw tire impressions in the grass and figured it had been left by a farmer so he knew there were no stumps in the field and he could make a soft landing.
He’s garnered 300 to 400 hours of flying. He’s had his license for a year and has been practicing for just these types of landings. His passenger who also co-owns the airplane was also his instructor. The plane is registered to Daniel Knall of Salisbury.
McGee explained that, because there was no damage to property or the plane and no injuries, it did not require contacting the Federal Aviation Administration.
Vonni Gilmore, 15, was outside when she saw the airplane fly really low. She heard the engine make a “clanky” noise and “looked up and it was coming this way,” she said as she pointed toward some houses.
She saw the plane make a circle and go back around, but never saw it land. She assumed the pilot flew low and pulled up.
“I could tell it was pretty close,” Gilmore said.
Bostian Heights Fire Department and Rowan Rescue personnel responded.
Original article can be found here: http://www.salisburypost.com
ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. -- A small plane carrying a pilot and a passenger diverted to a farm field near China Grove due to engine problems Friday afternoon.
Officials say a Cessna 172H Skyhawk didn't have enough power to get to Rowan County Airport, the intended destination.
The plane safely landed in a farm field off of Lentz Road.
Neither individuals in the airplane were injured and there were also no damages to the aircraft, officials say.
Original article can be found here: http://www.wcnc.com
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