Single-Engine Prop Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Mesa, Arizona, Street

By Aaron Poehler

Published on March 20, 2008

The plane, which is owned by Blue Sky Aviation, had been rented for flying lessons by student pilot Clarence McAllister, who is a chief executive officer at Phoenix company Fortis Networks. Shortly after takeoff from Mesa’s Falcon Field Airport, the plane lost all but 10 percent of its engine power between 100 and 150 feet in the air.

McAllister and his flight instructor, Ryan Olson, informed the Falcon Field control tower that they would be returning for an emergency landing, but the plane lost its remaining power and the pilots were instead forced to land on nearby McKellips Road. As the plane descended, the traffic on the street was too dense for the plane to land, so they aimed the plane for the foliage at the roadside, hoping it would help cushion the aircraft’s landing.

Although the plane sustained heavy damage and several trees and bushes were clipped during the plane’s harrowing landing, both McAllister and Olson escaped the wreck without injury and refused medical attention at the scene. No bystanders were injured, though McKellips Road was closed for several hours in the wake of the crash.

Mesa police and FAA investigators are currently looking into the incident.

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