New Skyhawk Bound For Middle East Suffers Engine Trouble

Even though most persons around the central Florida town of Sebring are probably familiar with the sight of small planes, it was still a scene that gave many of them pause.

A high-wing, single-engine aircraft, sitting on a country road... its fuselage emblazoned with the words "Iraqi Air Force."

The Associated Press reports local sheriff's deputies had to be dispatched around the stricken aircraft, which was forced to make an emergency landing Wednesday night after suffering engine trouble, to stop curious photographers from taking pictures. The pilot quickly covered the plane's markings.

As it turns out, there is a simple explanation: the plane was a new Cessna 172, one of 18 heading to Iraq as part of a $10.5 million training contract awarded to the Wichita, KS company by the US Air Force. The plane in question was heading to Miami, for transport to the Middle East onboard a USAF heavy-lift plane.

The FAA is investigating.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 1735L        Make/Model: C172      Description: 172, P172, R172, SKYHAWK, HAWK XP, CUTLA
  Date: 02/20/2008     Time: 1815

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: None

LOCATION
  City: HIGHLAND COUNTY   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON HIGHWAY UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES,
  HIGHLAND COUNTY, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: VFR

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL  (SO15)                   Entry date: 02/21/2008 #

FMI: www.cessna.com, www.af.mil