Pilot Made Emergency Landing On Residential Street

Some good news for Charles Riggs Friday... after prosecutors dropped all charges against the pilot, who made an emergency landing on a residential Fort Lauderdale street in 2005.

As Aero-News reported, Riggs had just taken off from Fort Lauderdale Executive June 13, 2005 in a DC-3 cargo plane loaded with granite, when the vintage aircraft experienced engine problems. Riggs, his copilot, and a passenger escaped serious injury after Riggs brought the plane down on a neighborhood street.

Rescue workers at the scene credited Riggs with saving dozens lives on the ground, as well... as he managed to avoid hitting any homes or buildings in the heavily-populated area. Two people on the ground reported minor injuries from the accident.

The Associated Press reports that despite efforts by the pilot apparently worthy of an "attaboy," however... the FAA pressed ahead with its case aimed at revoking Riggs' ticket. A criminal case was also filed against the pilot, claiming Riggs was operating the plane illegally in a commercial operation, and that he had failed to file a report to customs.

In July, though, the FAA's case against Riggs was thrown out by an administrative law judge... and as the criminal charges against Riggs hinged on the FAA case, ultimately all charges against the pilot were dropped.

Riggs' employer at the time, Air Pony Express, didn't fare as well, however -- as on Thursday, US District Judge James Cohn fined the company $2,000... plus $125 dollars in court costs for failing to file the required customs form.

A spokeswoman for the FAA reached after hours Friday could not confirm the details of the agency's case against Riggs to the AP.

FMI: Read The NTSB Preliminary Report