Twin Beech Experienced Severe Icing Short Of Airport

The pilot of a Beechcraft Travelair was attempting to land at Albany International Airport (KALB) in New York on December 21 when the icing on his aircraft became so severe he knew he wouldn’t make it so he landed the aircraft safely on I-87 in Albany.

The pilot, 19-year-old Logan Steed is from Winnsboro, South Carolina, and was flying from there to Bennington, Vermont when he tried to divert to ALB due to the icing. Two passengers, Steven Strung, 54, and April Strunk, 52, were also onboard the aircraft.

No one was injured when Steed landed the plane on the highway. Video from a vehicle showed the aircraft taxiing/coasting to the side of the road shortly after it landed in front of the vehicle.

Steed was able to maneuver it so that only a portion of the tail protruded onto the highway, but it still resulted in a massive traffic jam that backed up for about 4 miles and lasted several hours.

Steed landed the aircraft on the northbound side of the interstate a few miles south of the airport near Exit 23 and was able to coast over a bridge and then onto the shoulder of the road. Dave Zimmerman and Jeremy Benassi from Robert’s Towing Company used a towtruck with a crane to remove the aircraft from the highway and load it onto the bed of the truck.

Benassi said, “It’s really just kind of extraordinary call for us. It’s not an everyday thing we go out and do."

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office said, “This is very, very unique for a plane to land on the Thruway successfully, not striking any vehicles, and nobody being injured.”

FMI:  www.albanycountywy.gov/