Plane makes emergency landing on New York highway

[underfire]

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BREAKING: Small plane emergency lands on Major Deegan Expressway | PIX 11 (http://pix11.com/2014/01/04/breaking-small-plane-crash-lands-on-major-deegan-expressway/)

[airpolice]

Just being reported on BBC News

A small plane has made an emergency landing on a US interstate highway in the New York borough of The Bronx.

The single-engine Piper Cub touched down on the Major Deegan Expressway.

All three people on board were able to leave the plane without serious injury, local media say.

They say investigators are looking into the cause of the emergency - possibly a mechanical failure or fuel shortage. It is unclear how the plane managed to avoid highway traffic as it landed.A small plane has made an emergency landing on a US interstate highway in the New York borough of The Bronx.

The single-engine Piper Cub touched down on the Major Deegan Expressway.

All three people on board were able to leave the plane without serious injury, local media say.

They say investigators are looking into the cause of the emergency - possibly a mechanical failure or fuel shortage. It is unclear how the plane managed to avoid highway traffic as it landed.

[Talkdownman]

Three in a Cub…?

[Maoraigh1]

It's a Pa28 and looks like a good landing.

[Tarq57]

... and looks like a good landing.Well, they would have walked from it...

[moosp]

isn't that the definition of a good landing?

BBC shows the aircraft being removed from the road. Trees on one side, lamp posts on the other, on a slight curve, snow banks either side of one cleared carriageway.

Well done that man, neat bit of flying.

[haughtney1]

Well done that aviator!

[MrDuck]

Pilot reports making an emergency landing on the road due to unspecified passenger emergency. Except the statement 'only minor injuries' appears to contradict that it was a medical emergency. Airsickness?

How close is the nearest airport to the landing spot? can't be that far in terms of time.

[cumulusrider]

Appears do be hard enough to collapse the undercariage. The prop however appears to be horizontal and undamaged. Engine failure of some sort?

[JDA2012]

Location details here:

A Small Plane Made An Emergency Landing On The Major Deegan Expressway - Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/a-small-plane-made-an-emergency-landing-on-the-major-deegan-expressway-2014-1)

Inbound to LaGuardia, landed on the north-bound side of the Major Deegan Expressway near the East 233rd St. exit (I-87 exit 13).

Looks to be about here:

http://goo.gl/maps/R2oCg

Appears to be about 7nm from the airport.

[Osprey ken]

Did the pilot land with the flow of traffic or against?
All survived! Plane can be repaired. :ok:

[glendalegoon]

FROM the photographs, it seems the plane landed on the right side of the road which in New York would be with the flow of traffic.

SOMEWHERE someone reported that the prop had actually stopped (Not windmilling) in the air.

ANY landing you can walk away from is a good one.

WHOEVER came up with the name and marketing of the PIPER CUB must have made a fortune. IT Seems every plane built by PIPER is a CUB. ;-)

[Maoraigh1]

Avweb reports road was closed for pothole repair at the time, so only works vehicles.

[moosp]

BBC reporting that RTA people working on the road stopped the traffic when they saw the aircraft making a forced landing. Quick thinking, I guess the pilot owes them a slab of beer.

Also reporting engine failure.

[Steve6443]

What I'm hearing is that it was a student pilot who was taking two female friends on a sight seeing tour around the Statue of Liberty...... bearing in mind I've known an FI to forget to change tanks on a PA28 leading to a forced landing - much to his embarrassment when the other tank was found to be holding 60 litres of more), it wouldn't surprise me if this student was too distracted by his friends and forgot to change over / ran out of fuel....

[glendalegoon]

I haven't flown a cherokee in decades.

BUT I STILL Remember, trim for best glide,head toward PRE SELECTED FIELD, carb heat on, mixture rich, fuel pump on and switch to a tank containing fuel.

That might not be the right order, but pretty close.

And the pilot had a ppl, though the media can disguise the truth!

[rossmck]

As a student pilot learning in a PA28 I think glendalegoon has a fantastic memory (i've been doing my best to commit this and other checklist items to memory and think it's as follows)

Trim for best glide (73kts in the one I fly), head towards suitable landing area, carb heat on, pump on, change tanks, primer locked - attempt restart...

It's on my list as change tanks (i.e. whatever one you're currently on - let's assume for now that's not the one that works ;))

Bit unfair to judge the pilot until we know the full facts of it but whilst it was maybe not in the ideal location (I'd prefer a runway) - it does look like a decent enough landing. Still all on board and on the ground are safe, which is what matters most.

The aircraft itself was most likely only recently sold to it's new owner (since this page is still online) Aircraft Ownership Solutions (http://aircraftownershipsolutions.com/ad.php?t=N9409J)

[glendalegoon]

rossmck

thanks buddy...forgot the primer!

u must be flying the warrior, that was 73 knots best glide...nice plane!

checked my log book...30 years since a single engine piper...great planes.

always clear below!

[bigjames]

are you allowed to take passengers as a student pilot in the US? i was not allowed to take anyone up until i had my license.

[MarkerInbound]

No. But given the media, he could be working on a commercial rating and considered a "student." Or he could be explaining his actions to the FAA.

[IFMU]

NTSB says he is a private pilot:
ERA14LA085 (http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20140105X41404&key=1)
Bryan