SANTA PAULA, Calif. (AP) - The pilot of a small plane that made an emergency landing and flipped over in a dry riverbed says the Cessna’s engine died shortly after takeoff in Southern California.
Art Friedman and his passenger suffered lacerations Saturday near Santa Paula, but are otherwise fine. Friedman’s dog was on board too, and unhurt.
Friedman tells the Ventura County Star he considered bringing the plane down on State Route 126, but there was too much traffic.
The 70-year-old says the landing was relatively smooth until the front wheel hit a rock and the landing gear collapsed. The plane somersaulted and landed on its roof.
Federal officials are investigating the incident.
Last week a pilot escaped injury after his single-engine plane crashed and burst into flames on a freeway west of Los Angeles.
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