No Major Injuries Reported In The Emergency Landing

A pilot flying a 1965 Comanche 260 experienced engine failure Saturday morning, but was able to make an emergency landing on U.S. 101 just outside Santa Barbara. Neither the two people on the plane nor anyone on the ground was seriously injured in the incident.

Comanche File Photo

The pilot, Kris Sean Michel, told authorities he had switched tanks during the flight, and had attempted to re-start the engine after it stopped. He alerted Santa Barbara controllers that he was out of fuel, and that he would be landing on the highway. Michel said his intention was to land on the northbound lanes with the flow of traffic, but had difficulty controlling the aircraft after the engine failure.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer James Richards told CNN that the pilot made a deadstick landing in the southbound lane of PCH facing oncoming traffic. He said the plane hit two cars during the landing, and then spun around so that its tail struck a third vehicle. Only one passenger in one of the cars was treated for minor injuries, Richards said.

Michel's wife Allison was also on board the plane. They had departed from Temecula in Riverside County.

FMI: www.chp.ca.gov, www.ntsb.gov