Couple In The Car Said They Did Not See The Cessna On Approach

A student pilot in Texas on his first solo struck a car that was crossing the threshold of an active runway, resulting in extensive damage to both the car and the airplane ... and the accident was caught on video by the pilot's wife. Only minor injuries were associated with the accident.

A private road carries traffic very near the landing threshold at the airport, Northwest Regional Airport (52F) in Roanoke, TX. The road reportedly has "Stop" painted across the road before it crosses the runway path, but the SUV that was struck by the airplane did not stop before proceeding. FAA records indicate that the airplane is a 2005 Cessna 172S registered to MarcAir, Inc. of Roanoke, TX.

Television station WFAA in Dallas reports that, while the video does not show where the car should have stopped, it was evident that the car did not stop before crossing. The landing gear of the airplane hit the car behind the driver, shearing off the nose and right main gear of the airplane. Just before the SUV which was hit crossed the runway path, another vehicle was seen going across in the other direction that also did not appear to stop.

The people in the car said they did not see the airplane, which was just a few feet away and traveling at about 65 miles per hour. The airport manager Glen Hyde reportedly rushed to the accident scene and offered first aid. He is heard on the video tape asking why the driver of the car had pulled out in front of a plane. The driver, Frank Laudo, said "we didn't see it." His wife Heather insisted that they had not pulled out in front of the plane.

The student pilot, William Davis, said he is glad everyone involved is safe, but he has given up on the notion of getting his pilot's license. He said the accident was "too traumatic" for him to continue.

The airport has reportedly tried in the past to purchase the land on which the private road carries traffic across the runway theshold. The owner has been unwilling to sell. Airport manager Hyde said he would be contacting the FAA to explore options to make the road, which is not owned by the airport, safer for both the cars and the air traffic.

FMI: YouTube Video, www.ntsb.gov