Pilot Bails Out; Second Plane Crash-Lands
A man parachuted to safety just before his burning airplane hit the ground Thursday evening and another small plane crash-landed several hours later but no sign of the pilot or passengers was found.
Scott Harris, 29, was treated at Riverside General Hospital and released after jumping from his burning two-seat aircraft Thursday, Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Turley said.
The airplane was reduced to charred, twisted metal when it hit the ground, starting a small brush fire, Turley said. Harris was picked up by a local resident in a truck as he walked along a road.
Authorities on Friday were still investigating the rough landing of a twin-engine plane Thursday evening at Flabob Airport, in the unincorporated Riverside County area of Rubidoux.
The unidentified pilot brought the plane down in a belly landing around 6 p.m., said Rubidoux firefighter Dave Rollins.
The plane sustained extensive damage, Rollins said, but when authorities arrived at the airport, they could not locate the pilot or any passengers.
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