Both People On Board The Cessna 150 Walked Away From The Accident

The pilot of a Cessna 150 executed a successful emergency landing on Interstate 10 in Jackson County, MS Monday after the airplane developed engine problems at about 3,500 feet.

Television station WLOX reports that the pilot, identified as Rodney McNight Jr. was flying with the owner of the airplane in the right seat of the airplane from Auburn, AL to Gulfport-Biloxi (MS) International Airport.

McNight knew he would be unable to make Mobile, AL, the nearest airport with the engine not developing power. He told air traffic controllers that he was declaring an emergency and lined up on I-10. He had enough lift to get him to the pavement, and he managed to dodge the light poles and land between cars. Fortunately, the drivers on the Interstate were paying attention.

Sarah Washburn was one of those drivers. She told WLOX that McNight was able to make his intentions known to the drivers in the way he maneuvered the airplane. When he landed, the traffic slowed and many drivers put on their hazard lights, she said. McNight coasted the airplane onto the shoulder of the freeway.

According to his LinkedIn profile, McNight is a ground instructor at MzeroA, an online resource for pilots training for certificates ranging from private to commercial and CFI.

(Image from file. Not incident aircraft)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov