Cessna lands on highway Interstate 95

This is a news report of a recent emergency landing (and take-off, after repairs) of a Cessna on the Interstate 95 stretch not far from me. Great video of the aircraft taking off, right at the DOT camera! That's not often seen, so it's here for your viewing enjoyment.

As usual, the local news has enough inaccuracies to make this somewhat amusing. Earlier reports stated that an Essna aircraft had to take off from the highway, then it noted that the small aircraft's engines were running at full power to make the take off. A "mere 600 yards" available for taking off! The Cessna could make three take-offs with that much length, but clearly the reporter is not a pilot. This report shows the "malfunctioned fuel cylinder" briefly, which I always thought was an engine cylinder. The DOT worker adds a bit of local entertainment, certainly, "By golly, I'll tell you what!"

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• airplane
• highway
• interstate
• emergency
• landing
• cessna
• crash

[TheMeslava]

600 yards? That's 1800 feet. An embraer 170 only needs 1600 something feet to take off full weight... Pretty sure that 152 can do it. Why must news make everything sound so risky?

[freddotu]

@TheMeslava, I've thought about that a lot too. I believe that the media, especially the television media embrace the concept of a culture of fear. It sells advertising and that makes them money. More fear, more money. "The roads are dangerous, the skies are dangerous, there's so much danger. Tune in at eleven for more danger. Buy products from our advertisers."

[californigirl]

Sh&&, I could do that. Any pilot should be able to do that! How About greasing it in at SNA with 60 knot gusts cross the runway - go'head buckshot...

[freddotu]

@californigirl, as you're probably aware, the media rarely gets anything correct, and especially when it comes to aviation related topics. A competent pilot should be able to handle an engine out and this one showed his abilities just fine. I'll concede the point to a pilot who has an engine lose a propeller blade, of course.

[137ronix]

it might be a stupid question but do you get in trouble for landing on the road like that? even if its an emergency landing?

[freddotu]

@137ronix, in an emergency, any safe place to land is permitted. it's the taking off part that's unusual in this case. It's very rare for an aircraft to be given permission to depart from a roadway.

[louistheonion23]

@yellowbikemike she looks like a man, but if you role that way, go for it (Y)

[yellowbikemike]

Am I the only one who thinks the news reporter is hot?

She needs to taste my DNA.....

[SeaShepherd061]

thats a Cessna 150

[mmutasim2]

So,uh. Anyone up for GTA SA and landing a damn plane on the highway after watching this?

[dodgingdaniel]

i love there is a truck still driving as the plane is taking off

[mustanggun]

Emergency, is just that an emergency. Hence, an emergency landing. We are trained to look for the best place to land an airplane when there is an emergency that takes away your power, and a straight road is a perfect place. Just look out for powerlines and overpass' and signs on the side that you can clip a wing. This CFI pilot (me not knowing all the details) did perfect. Engine out, best glide, landed, got it fixed, and took off. Good on ya, every one happy.

[oktal3700]

Guy at the end is Hank from King of the Hill. I tell you h-what!

[horizonflyer9]

Love that worker at the end lol but beautiful job to the pilot. Usually I get pissed by news reports of aircraft incidents but this one actually seemed more genuine...

[MyEmpire91]

i did this in FSX several times but with boeing :D

[117nathanmyers]

What a political nightmare for the FAA... They must hate when this type of stuff happens even when it is this small. The media just hypes is up so much and never get the facts correct.

[LeggoMyEigo]

"Common practice" my eye. I don't even have my PPL, but I can tell you that, as a pilot, you never have the right to put others in danger even in an emergency situation. Landing on a highway is the absolute last-resort, and the thought that a CFI would brush it off as something trivial takes some real nerve. You screwed up big, pal. When it comes to aviation, arrogance like that can get you killed. What an embarrassment.

[TheMeslava]

I should elaborate more. The Embraer 170 takes about 1644 feet for a take off roll. It would take longer to actually clear obstacles, but it's still a short distance. A 152 or 172 could get out of here easy, unless it was like a higher terrain or really hot day. Just a typical short field.

@freddotu Yeah it's just the way it is these days. I think it's crazy.. I fly a 172 and the airfield I fly out of only has 3000 foot runways. I'll tell you, I don't even use HALF of that. Barely a quarter..