A small plane experienced engine problems and landed on a highway near a North Carolina airport, striking two vehicles as it landed, but thankfully, no injuries were reported. The single-engine Lancair 360 had only the pilot on board and landed near Raleigh Executive Jetport at Sanford-Lee County Airport in Sanford around 4:20 p.m. Thursday. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident. The plane was traveling from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, and struck two SUVs as it landed on Route 1, but only one vehicle sustained minor damage. The pilot experienced a prop failure that led to engine failure, causing an emergency landing. The landing gear was not deployed, resulting in a belly landing.
The Moncure Fire Department Chief Robert Shi said the incident only involved property damage and expressed gratitude that it did not result in any injuries. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that of the two vehicles clipped by the plane, only one driver filed a report. Chris Sealey, who witnessed the incident, described seeing the plane flying unusually low with no landing gear and initially mistaking it for a car. He estimated that the plane was only about three feet off the ground when he saw it, and noted that the traffic on both sides of the highway was reacting in a panicked manner. Despite the dramatic landing, there was no explosion or major incident following the plane’s crash landing.
The incident caused a temporary disruption on the heavily-traveled U.S. Route 1, with authorities working to clear the scene and investigate the cause of the engine failure. The plane’s pilot managed to navigate the emergency landing successfully and avoid any injuries to himself or others on the highway. The pilot reported that the prop failure resulted in the engine failure that forced the emergency landing, which fortunately only led to property damage. The Moncure Fire Department expressed relief that the incident did not escalate into a more serious situation given the amount of traffic on the highway during that time.
There were no reports of injuries or major damages from the incident, aside from the minor damage caused to one of the vehicles by the landing plane. The pilot efficiently executed an emergency landing on the highway, despite not having landing gear deployed, resulting in the plane landing on its belly. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol noted that only one driver filed a report following the incident, further highlighting the fortunate outcome of the emergency landing. Witnesses described the plane flying unusually low with no landing gear and reacting in shock to the unexpected landing on the highway, but ultimately relief that no injuries resulted from the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration will conduct an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the engine failure and subsequent emergency landing on the highway. The pilot reported a prop failure leading to engine failure, which necessitated the emergency landing with the landing gear not deployed. Authorities worked to clear the scene on the heavily-traveled U.S. Route 1 and ensure that the situation was contained without further incident. The Moncure Fire Department Chief expressed appreciation that the incident did not result in any injuries, noting that it could have been a much worse situation given the amount of traffic on the highway at that time. Overall, the incident highlighted the importance of quick thinking and skillful execution in handling emergencies in order to prevent further damage or harm.
