Engine Failure Leads to San Diego Traffic Snarl : Plane Crash Lands on Street, Injuring 1

A private plane experienced sudden engine trouble and was forced to make a crash landing Wednesday evening on busy Balboa Avenue, injuring one motorist seriously.

“It’s just amazing more people weren’t hurt,” said city Fire Department spokesman Larry Stewart.

The pilot and only occupant of the Cessna 182, Bruce Goodwillie, 28, of San Diego, was shaken up, but otherwise uninjured. He remained on the scene as investigators questioned him about the accident, but declined to talk to reporters.

Calvin Burns of San Diego was hospitalized in serious condition with multiple injuries. Burns, in his mid-50s, was inside a car that was crushed by the plane.

Another motorist escaped without injury, even though part of the single-engine aircraft ripped through the side of his van and narrowly miss his head.

“I guess I was just lucky,” said Kurt Frank of San Diego. “It was an unexpected birthday present,” added Frank, who was celebrating his 34th birthday.

Authorities said Goodwillie was practicing landings and takeoffs from Montgomery Field when the engine malfunctioned. Realizing that he could not return to the airport safely, officials said, Goodwillie looked for a suitable street to land on before he touched down on the westbound lanes of Balboa Avenue, just east of Interstate 805.

The plane plunged head on into the rear of three lanes of cars stopped for a red light. At least five cars were struck by the plane, which came to a stop when its nose and propeller burrowed into the back of an Oldsmobile sedan.

“I was hit from behind and I thought I was in a fender-bender with another car,” said Jeanie Grugel of San Diego, whose car was rear-ended by another vehicle pushed ahead by the crashing aircraft. “I was very surprised when I got out and found out it was all caused by an airplane.”

The Federal Aviation Administration and San Diego police were investigating the cause of the incident. No charges have been filed.

Balboa Avenue was closed in both directions for several hours.