This morning as I going to the bank on Milgen Road, Columbus, I heard a Trucker said that he was lucky that he escaped being hit by a small Cessna Plane which has landed on the intersection of Miller Road and Warmspring Road.Near the Airport.
As I drove passed Miller Road to go to Airport Thruway, I saw a small plane at the clear landing near the traffic lite intersection, surrounded by Police cars, Firetrucks and some Newscaster Van, from WTVM and WRBL. A few reporters were on site to broadcast the news.
I did not see how the plane had landed so perfectly on the ground without hitting anyone , any cars ,building or power lines. Someone said that it was out of gas and made an emergency landing. I took a few photos with my cell phone.
According to the WTVM evening news,the pilot has made the emergency landing because he was out of gas. His flight left Lynchburg, Virginia headed for Dublin, Georgia., when he made the emergency landing.
"You see it dropping, and you hope for the best," said Pilot Dawson Lampp.
Lampp is describing the gut-wrenching moments when he realized his Cessna plane was running out of gas in mid-air.
Lampp had tried landing in Dublin, Georgia but there was heavy fog.
He then tried two other airports, but couldn't find anyplace to put the plane down, until he saw the Columbus Airport.
"This was the first clear opening and I was running low on fuel and I knew that," said Lampp. Lampp was making his approach to the runway, when at 2,000 feet, his last tank ran dry.
"Once it ran out gas, and had no power, it dropped like a rock and the first clear area I saw, I put it down and I took my chances without hitting somebody," he said.
With 10 years experience in the cockpit, Lampp was able to maneuver the plane around trees and power lines, and onto Warm Springs Road.
A split decision that saved his life. "I saw houses in front of me, and a road over here, and I chose the road instead," said Lampp.
Lampp says he glided at least four blocks, without hitting a single car, before rolling to a stop. He says his experience is a miracle he won't be taking for granted.
"Just have to count my blessings no one was there and no one got hurt," Lampp said.
The plane was towed to the Columbus Metropolitan Airport, where FAA investigators will take a look at it.
Lampp says he has 800 hours experience in that Cessna plane, and he's been flying in it for 3 years. He says he loves to fly and he'll fly again, if the FAA doesn't take his license.
"You see it dropping, and you hope for the best," said Pilot Dawson Lampp.
Lampp is describing the gut-wrenching moments when he realized his Cessna plane was running out of gas in mid-air.
Lampp had tried landing in Dublin, Georgia but there was heavy fog.
He then tried two other airports, but couldn't find anyplace to put the plane down, until he saw the Columbus Airport.
"This was the first clear opening and I was running low on fuel and I knew that," said Lampp. Lampp was making his approach to the runway, when at 2,000 feet, his last tank ran dry.
"Once it ran out gas, and had no power, it dropped like a rock and the first clear area I saw, I put it down and I took my chances without hitting somebody," he said.
With 10 years experience in the cockpit, Lampp was able to maneuver the plane around trees and power lines, and onto Warm Springs Road.
A split decision that saved his life. "I saw houses in front of me, and a road over here, and I chose the road instead," said Lampp.
Lampp says he glided at least four blocks, without hitting a single car, before rolling to a stop. He says his experience is a miracle he won't be taking for granted.
"Just have to count my blessings no one was there and no one got hurt," Lampp said.
The plane was towed to the Columbus Metropolitan Airport, where FAA investigators will take a look at it.
Lampp says he has 800 hours experience in that Cessna plane, and he's been flying in it for 3 years. He says he loves to fly and he'll fly again, if the FAA doesn't take his license.
Thank God no one was hurt.
