A pilot survived after a small plane suffered engine trouble and made a dramatic emergency landing on a North Carolina highway.
At about 4:20 p.m. Thursday, the single-engine Lancair 360 landed on its belly, skidded across Route 1, and hit two cars. No injuries were reported, officials said.
“I mean, he was probably about three feet off the ground when I saw him, so I don’t think it took him that long to leave,” said Chris Seeley, who witnessed the crash. told WRAL-TV. “And behind me, there wasn’t a big explosion or anything, but you could see the traffic on both sides was a little bit hectic. But there was a line of cars going on behind him.”
The plane was flying from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, when it was forced to land near the Raleigh Executive Jetport at Sanford Lee County Airport in Sanford, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The agency said only the pilot was on board.
Moncure Fire Department Chief Robert See said the plane struck two SUVs on the highway, but sustained only minor damage and no injuries were reported.
The pilot told authorities he experienced a propeller failure that led to engine failure. told Fox News. The landing gear did not deploy, so the plane landed on its belly.
“Moncure Fire is grateful that this incident resulted in only property damage,” said See. “U.S. 1 has a lot of foot traffic every afternoon, and this accident could have been much worse.
According to police, only one driver of the two cars involved filed a complaint.
