Mind if I park here? Lucky escape after trainee pilot crash lands on two parked cars during second solo flight
By DAVID GARDNER
Last updated at 11:57 AM on 29th October 2010
Last updated at 11:57 AM on 29th October 2010
Perhaps the student pilot was confused when he was told to taxi on to the runway.
Or maybe he was simply taking a crash course in landing.
Either way, the 60-year-old trainee walked away unhurt from the accident at Tampa North Aero Park in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
Crash landing: The single-engined plane came to rest on top of two parked cars in a car park next to Tampa North Aero Park
It was only his second solo flight and a preliminary report revealed he had problems during take-off and lost control over the aircraft during his descent.
The single-engine plane skidded off the runway and landed on top of two cars parked in front of a nearby medical factory.
Eyewitness Alayne Perkins said she heard a loud bang when the plane crashed.
'I thought it was a big bird hitting the door,' shed told the St Petersburg Times.
'I went "aha!" and I jumped. My husband went to the door. He said "there's a plane on two cars out here!".'
Demetrius Tolbert, 38, of Tampa, works as a solderer for the Rochester Electro-Medical company. His white 2005 Chevy Impala was badly damaged in the crash.
He said: 'I want to see what GEICO is going to say about this one.'
Shirley Manzella, 44, of Port Richey, is the owner of the other car damaged by the plane - a blue 2007 Chevy Aveo.
Talking to her insurance company, she said: 'A plane landed on my car. If you guys hurry up, you can see it.'
Dave Allen, acting battalion chief for Pasco Fire Rescue, said the pilot was uninjured.
He said: 'He climbed out of the plane on his own. He was a little rattled.'
The plane had 35 gallons of fuel which had not leaked from the aircraft, he added.
The red-faced pilot has not been named. Federal Aviation Authority officials are investigating the incident.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1324755/Lucky-escape-trainee-pilot-crash-lands-plane-parked-cars-second-solo-flight.html#ixzz13kffLikD
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