2 people dead after small plane attempts emergency landing on southwest Florida interstate

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press

2 people dead after small plane attempts emergency landing on southwest Florida interstate

Updated 12:21 AM EST, February 10, 2024

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Two people have died after a small plane attempted to make an emergency landing on Interstate 75 in southwest Florida on Friday afternoon, colliding with a vehicle and bringing traffic to a halt as a massive plume of black smoke rose into the air.

The crash landing happened near the Pine Ridge Road exit in Collier County, just north of where the interstate heads east toward Fort Lauderdale along what is known as Alligator Alley.

Brianna Walker saw the wing of the plane drag the car in front of hers and slam into the wall.

“It’s seconds that separated us from the car in front of us,” she said. “The wing pulverized this one car.”

{snip}

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/small-plane-lands-interstate-75-florida-e619a4b96a7d0dcd14036fecae6f9ccd

[groundloop]

1. Not exactly what I'd call a "small plane"

The aircraft was a "private jet", not what I'd consider a "small plane".

Here's a photo of the Bombardier Challenger 600:

[genxlib]

2. I figured something big was up

I was caught in that traffic jam as I-75 was closed for hours.

Took me 2.5 hours to get around it.

I always figure when something like that causes me a bad day that someone else had it worse.

[snowybirdie]

3. This happened

About 3 blocks from my home that is close to the interstate. There are three airports close by, within minutes, that he couldn't make. A miracle that anyone got out!

[JudyM]

4. Happened last month in Virginia, too.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/19/us/small-commuter-airliner-traveling-from-dulles-lands-on-road/index.html

[rickford66]

5. Both engines out ? Probably fuel management error by pilot.

Running out of fuel, accidently switching off fuel feed etc. Bird strike or recent maintenance weren't mentioned.

[mitch96]

6. It will be interesting to see the NTSB report on the accident. nt

[EX500rider]

7. Double bird strike maybe

But fuel management unlikely according to the experts over at airliners.net:

Over 1,000 hours on type, fuel management is all automatic, that said fueling the plane can be tricky. But on a that flight as long as enough were on board ex-OSU, no pilot management error that could cause fuel starvation.

Burn on that leg would be about 5,000#, so full wings, which is pure tank-to-engine, would leave 4,000#

[rickford66]

10. I worked many years on flight sims so these kind of accidents get my interest.

I simulated dozens of fuel systems, including every malfunction possible. I had read about the results of all the accident investigations when working and fuel mismanagement figured in many engine flameouts and most dual engine flameouts. The best data I refer to was back in the late 90's so may not apply to some of today's more automated systems. Miswiring, like the 73 that went down in England years ago is a possibility. Ground crews have caused some of these type of problems also. I'm looking forward to the investigation results. My buddies and me had many discussions about the Boeing trim problem a couple years back. An automatic function with bad software combined with poor training and ambiguous trim controls. As in most aircraft accidents, it usually takes three things to lead to disaster.

[FakeNoose]

8. So the folks on the private jet saved themselves by killing the 2 people in the car

That's how it sounds in the follow-up story. I sure hope there's a hearing on this.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. The crew was trying to avoid going down in a residential neighborhood.

Last edited Sat Feb 10, 2024, 07:03 PM - Edit history (1)

An Interstate highway was the closest equivalent of a runway they could find.

What would you have done?

[EX500rider]

11. The 2 people who died were the pilots of the jet...

...who if you listen to the air traffic control audio maintained their professionalism to the end.