Banner Plane Crashes into Water at Hampton Beach
HAMPTON, N.H. – In a startling incident, a banner plane made an emergency landing in the water off Hampton Beach on Saturday. Video footage captured by a WMUR viewer shows the plane attempting to land on the water. However, when the nose of the plane touched the water, the tail flipped into the air. Miraculously, the plane flipped back and ended up upright in the water. No injuries were reported.
The plane, a fixed-wing aircraft carrying a banner, was piloted by the only person on board. Fortunately, the pilot was rescued by lifeguards and did not sustain any injuries. Witnesses at the scene reported that the plane had been pulling a sign advertising a local business before attempting to land. The plane has since been successfully pulled ashore.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the plane involved in the incident has the tail number N4890P and is registered to Eugene F. Gray of North Hampton. The aircraft is identified as a Piper PA-18-150. Gray is listed as a co-owner of Sky Lines Aerial Ads, LLC, based in North Hampton, according to records from the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
Flight tracking software indicates that the plane took off from Hampton Airfield at around 10:45 a.m. It made several laps along Hampton Beach and Salisbury Beach before tracking ended at 11:59 a.m. The exact cause of the incident is currently under investigation by the FAA.
Despite the dramatic nature of the crash, the pilot declined to provide an on-camera interview with WMUR. However, police at the scene mentioned that the pilot had reported engine problems prior to the crash. Further details about the cause of the engine problems are yet to be determined.
This incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks involved in aviation, even during routine operations. Prompt action from lifeguards and the absence of injuries in this case demonstrate the effectiveness of the emergency response and the pilot’s skill in handling the situation. As the investigation continues, authorities will focus on determining the exact cause of the engine problems and ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Click here to watch the video of the crash.
Click here to watch as the plane is pulled ashore.
Original Story at www.wmur.com – 2023-07-30 04:08:00