NT NEWS 30/06/06
Plane lands on Alice road
By GAVIN KING
30jun06
PASSENGERS on a charter flight feared for their lives when their plane made an emergency landing on a road at Brewer Estate.
The pilot was forced to turn the engine off while in mid-air and glide to safety when he noticed a loss of oil pressure.
Six passengers were on board the Aboriginal Air Services flight when it left Alice Springs for Ernabella, in SA, at 9.30am on Tuesday.
Passenger Lynley Green said she feared for her life, but praised the pilot for his skill.
The pilot alerted air traffic control to engine problems in the 14-seat Cessna about 85km south of Alice Springs airport.
He turned the plane around but then issued a mayday call when the oil pressure alert light came on, turning the engine off.
He was forced to glide and land on the road leading into the industrial area at Brewer Estate, 5km southwest of Alice Springs airport. The plane burst a tyre on impact with the road.
Aviation firefighting and rescue officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the landing.
They comforted passengers and cleaned leaked engine oil from the road.
Ms Green, from the Warburton Aboriginal community, said: "It was the scariest thing that's happened to me.
"We were trying to get back to the airport but then the pilot turned the engine off.
"He did a good job landing on the road and keeping us safe."
The plane remained on the road for repairs, watched by security guards overnight before taking off on Wednesday.
Well done.:t