After delivering pizzas in South Florida I wouldn't think there is much that could make you nervous...
_______________________________
Wednesday, 1 August, 2001, 03:23 GMT 04:23 UK
Novice pilot reaches Cuba by mistake
The plane just made it to the Cuban coast
A novice American pilot on a training flight in Florida has flown all the way to Cuba, apparently because he was too nervous to land.
He said he couldn't land, he was afraid
Ute Steigerwald, Paradise Aviation
John Reese, 50, was meant to circle Marathon airport in the Florida Keys once, and then come in to land in his Cessna 172.
Instead, he flew south for 230km (140 miles) and, after almost skimming the sea, crash-landed on rocky ground at Cojimar, east of Havana.
The pilot was shaken, but unhurt, and was able to walk away from the plane.
"He was really lucky because he was going really close to the sea before he reached the ground, " said one eyewitness.
No radio contact
Mr Reese, a driver for Pizza Hut in Marathon, and had been taking flying lessons for two weeks with a company called Paradise Aviation.
Paradise's Vice-President Ute Steigerwald said that Mr Resse had lost his nerve when he came into land.
"He said he couldn't land, he was afraid," she said.
Instead he continued flying south and did not return radio calls from Marathon airport.
"He looked like he knew what he was doing," said Ms Steigerwald.
A US Navy plane tracked the Cessna, and tried to make contact with Mr Reese, but without success.
The Navy plane turned back when Mr Reese entered Cuban airspace.
It is not clear whether the Cessna, worth about $60,000, can be salvaged.
"We are not exactly ecstatic about it," said Ms Steigerwald.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...00/1467815.stm