Savoia
3rd Apr 2012, 10:53
Woman, 80, with no flying experience, miraculously lands plane after her pilot husband collapses mid-flight
*She stayed airborne for over an HOUR before radioing for help
*81-year-old husband-pilot later died in hospital
*One of two engines lost power - and fuel was running low
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/04/03/article-0-12725420000005DC-57_634x352.jpg
This twin engine Cessna was successfully landed in Wisconsin by an 80-year-old first-time pilot after her husband collapsed behind the controls
A woman aged 80, who had never flown before, successfully managed to land a twin-engine Cessna after her husband passed out at the controls.Somehow the elderly novice kept the plane airborne for over an hour - only radioing for help when low fuel levels caused the right engine to fail.The woman, as yet unnamed, then showed nerves of steel to safely steer the aircraft onto the tarmac of the Door County Cherryland Airport in Wisconsin.
The first-time pilot was expertly helped by an air traffic team and a second pilot sent up to fly alongside her and coach her to the to the ground.
Her husband, who authorities say suffered a medical condition while flying, was later pronounced dead.The 80-year-old woman suffered only minor injuries, the result of a bumpy landing, and was treated at a nearby hospital.
The mid-air drama took place after 5pm on Monday, six miles south of the Midwest town of Sturgeon.Authorities have yet to release the names of either husband of wife, but Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel has praised the quick-thinking bravery of the elderly novice.'She's not a licensed pilot and has very little on flying an aircraft,' he said.'We're very proud of her for doing what she did. It was a very difficult situation with her husband unconscious next to her. It took a lot to collect her thoughts and get that thing landed.'Federal Aviation Authorities will investigate the incident.
*She stayed airborne for over an HOUR before radioing for help
*81-year-old husband-pilot later died in hospital
*One of two engines lost power - and fuel was running low
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/04/03/article-0-12725420000005DC-57_634x352.jpg
This twin engine Cessna was successfully landed in Wisconsin by an 80-year-old first-time pilot after her husband collapsed behind the controls
A woman aged 80, who had never flown before, successfully managed to land a twin-engine Cessna after her husband passed out at the controls.Somehow the elderly novice kept the plane airborne for over an hour - only radioing for help when low fuel levels caused the right engine to fail.The woman, as yet unnamed, then showed nerves of steel to safely steer the aircraft onto the tarmac of the Door County Cherryland Airport in Wisconsin.
The first-time pilot was expertly helped by an air traffic team and a second pilot sent up to fly alongside her and coach her to the to the ground.
Her husband, who authorities say suffered a medical condition while flying, was later pronounced dead.The 80-year-old woman suffered only minor injuries, the result of a bumpy landing, and was treated at a nearby hospital.
The mid-air drama took place after 5pm on Monday, six miles south of the Midwest town of Sturgeon.Authorities have yet to release the names of either husband of wife, but Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel has praised the quick-thinking bravery of the elderly novice.'She's not a licensed pilot and has very little on flying an aircraft,' he said.'We're very proud of her for doing what she did. It was a very difficult situation with her husband unconscious next to her. It took a lot to collect her thoughts and get that thing landed.'Federal Aviation Authorities will investigate the incident.