Pilot Lands on Highway After Engine Fails
A pilot whose engine died looked around for an emergency landing spot and saw just what he needed -- a four-lane highway near New Hill that wasn’t busy.
Frank H. Smith, 87, of Cary was flying his home-built aircraft at 8,500 feet when he lost power.
“When the engine blows, you’ve got to put it down someplace,” he said. “Highway 1 was the best I could do. I lucked out.”
State Trooper Ed Suttles said no charges would be filed and the National Transportation Safety Board would investigate.
Smith, a retired engineer, said it was the first problem he had encountered in 30 years of flying.
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