Pilot Receives Minor Injuries After Engine Quits

The young pilot of a Cessna 305 banner-tow aircraft received minor injuries Saturday, when she was forced to put the plane down on a beach in Asbury Park, NJ after its engine reportedly cut out.

Katie Koehler, 22, was taken to a local hospital with a bruised left arm and a cut on her lip after putting the plane down two miles from the main entrance of the 12-mile park, reports the Asbury Park Press.

Witnesses heard the plane's engine backfire before observing the aircraft turn sharply left into the wind. The aircraft (type shown above) turned almost a complete circle before it impacted the beach.

"The first thing I saw was the plane drop its banner," said Jacob Young. Witness Steve Minicozzi added, "It was kind of skillful flying."

East Moriches Aerial President Ron DeLalio agreed. "When it comes to pilots, she's absolutely the best," he said of Koehler, a two-year employee with the flying service.

Police and rescue personnel arrived on the scene about 20 minutes after the accident, which occurred at around 4:00 pm EDT Saturday. Investigators also responded to the accident.

The incident was the third in just over one year involving banner planes in the area. As ANN reported last July, two banner planes were forced to make emergency landings in Toms River on the same day -- one in a restaurant parking lot, the other at a local ballfield. No one was injured in either incident.

FMI: www.faa.gov