Plane Lands in River, Flips Over; Pilot OK
Attempting an emergency landing, the pilot of a single-engine Cessna flipped his rented plane and landed upside-down in the muddy bed of the Santa Clara River on Monday.
Salvador Roman, 32, escaped serious injury.
He was flying out of nearby Santa Paula Airport when he experienced engine problems about 10:30 a.m., said Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bret Uhlich.
Officials rushed to the scene by helicopter, said county Fire Department spokeswoman Sandi Wells.
Roman, a Santa Paula resident, told officials he attempted an emergency landing because he feared he would not be able to return to the airport.
“He did have a successful emergency landing, but the wheels got stuck in the mud and it flipped the plane over,” Wells said.
Roman was found standing near the wreckage when fire officials arrived and was taken to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital after complaining of neck pain. He was treated and released, Wells said.
The Cessna 150 commuter plane sustained minor damage to the engine and airframe, Uhlich said.
No cause for the accident has been determined. Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating.
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