Weather forces small plane to land on local roadway

Published 11:37 am Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Shawn Skager

The Courier-Herald

The Federal Aviation Agency is still investigating why a small plane landed on state Route 410 near Mud Mountain Road last week.

At 1:43 p.m. Jan. 25, the Washington State Patrol was notified by a passing motorist of a small plane being pushed off the road and onto the shoulder.

According to Trooper Kelly Spangler of the WSP, the passerby reported seeing the pilot of the plane - a Piper Cherokee - pushing the plane off the road and onto the shoulder.

&#8220When the troopers got there they had to push the plane further off the road,” Spangler said. &#8220There were no vehicles involved and no damage to the plane.”

Spangler said when troopers arrived the pilot was not on the scene and did not return until that evening. When questioned by the troopers, Spangler said the pilot was &#8220uncooperative.”

Why the Piper Cherokee was landed on SR 410 is currently being investigated by the FAA, according to spokesman Mike Fergus.

&#8220We're wondering why the plane had to set down,” Fergus said. &#8220We're not sure if was a problem with the fuel line or if they were out of fuel. He did a good job of putting the plane down, we are just wondering why he put it down.”

According to Fergus, the pilot is cooperating with the FAA's investigation which is currently under way.

&#8220When he left the airplane he called us first to the best of our knowledge,” Fergus said.

The 1964 Piper Cherokee is registered to King's Heir Inc., based near Crest Airpark in Kent.

Attempts to contact King's Heir were unsuccessful.

Shawn Skager can be reached at sskager@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.