Instructor And Student Landed On Busy Interstate, Both Were Uninjured

A Cirrus SR20 on a night flight from Sanford International Airport in Orlando, FL, To Jacksonville Executive Airport at Craig Field made an emergency landing Saturday night on a busy interstate highway. Neither the flight instructor or the student pilot were injured, but the plane was struck after landing by a pickup truck which did not stop at the scene.

SR20 File Photo

Florida State Highway Patrol Sgt. Dennis Smith told the Florida Times-Union that the plane developed engine trouble on the flight to Craig. The plane belongs to Aerosim Flight Academy in Sanford, FL, just north of Orlando. The spot pilot David Rowe of Winston Salem, NC selected to land is a part of the interstate south of Jacksonville where I-295, I-95, and Florida 9A connect, so there are a lot of curving ramps and flyovers which carry a lot of traffic. Smith said he didn't know how Rowe managed to land the airplane safely under those circumstances, but he did.

The student on board was identified as Sean Kristopher Carlisis of Layton, UT. Neither one chose to speak to the media about the incident.

The airplane was undamaged until its left wing was struck by a pickup truck which did not stop after the accident. Police said they would like to "speak to" the driver of that truck.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov