Wow, many times I've felt 'powerless', but never 'dropped in' on traffic - usually it was a bar. 
[where do they find these idiots that write these headlines]
Posted on 01/28/2004 9:29:47 AM PST by GaltMeister
Ira Nisby had his eyes on the road as he tooled down Interstate 40 in Memphis Sunday, but he should have been watching the skies.
Just before noon, an out-of-gas Cessna 210 single-engine airplane with four aboard touched down on the top of his GMC Jimmy, then bounced into the lane ahead of him.
"I heard a knock," Nisby said. "He came from the air. I couldn't see it," he said.
Nisby, of Millington, was headed west at Covington Pike to drop off a woman passenger in his vehicle, when the airplane descended.
There were no injuries. The airplane didn't have any apparent damage. A runner on the top of Nisby's vehicle was crushed.
Nisby said he concentrated on trying to screen the traffic coming up behind so the airplane could coast from the far left lane to the right shoulder.
"It was important to get the traffic stopped behind me," Nisby said.
The airplane came to rest close to the Austin Peay exit, about two miles west of touchdown.
"He had to be a good pilot. He didn't lose control," Nisby said.
Nisby said it had been a lucky week for him. He said he played the lottery three times and won every time.
The pilot, who wasn't identified, did a good job, said Memphis Police Maj. Harvey Sullivan, except for running out of fuel.
The pilot was on his way from Albany, Ga., to Fayetteville, Ark., according to Sullivan, and planned to refuel in Memphis. "Next time he should use an airport," Sullivan said.
The emergency landing slowed westbound traffic for about two hours. Two left lanes were opened shortly after the landing.
The pilot declined to speak to reporters at the scene.
Police towed the airplane to General DeWitt Spain Airport several miles away at Whitney and Second. It wasn't known Sunday evening if the pilot continued his flight.
After an investigation, the pilot could face sanctions ranging from a letter of warning to a suspension or revocation of his flying license.
"This is something we take very seriously," said FAA spokesman Kathleen Bergen. "It is uncommon."
Looks like his plan *kinda* worked out.
Aeronaut, here's one for the Gen Av ping list.
Running out of fuel is considered a reckless operation.
Running out of fuel is considered a reckless operation.
An I suppose he's also lucky he didn't try to land on a Houston freeway: he'd have had a hell of a time trying dodge the cars who were speeding up to get past him....
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate a civil aircraft in IFR conditions unless it carries enough fuel (considering weather reports and forecasts and weather conditions) to--
(1) Complete the flight to the first airport of intended landing;
(2) Fly from that airport to the alternate airport; and
(3) Fly after that for 45 minutes at normal cruising speed or, for helicopters, fly after that for 30 minutes at normal cruising speed.
(b) Paragraph (a)(2) of this section does not apply if--
(1) Part 97 of this chapter prescribes a standard instrument approach procedure for the first airport of intended landing; and
(2) For at least 1 hour before and 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival at the airport, the weather reports or forecasts or any combination of them indicate--
(i) The ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation;
and (ii) visibility will be at least 3 statute miles.
Yeah, but it sounds like a he did a lousy pre-flight.
The government will come up with legislation requiring all passenger vehicle to be equipped with sun roofs so you can keep an eye on the sky. Of course, thousnads will die in traffic accidents caused by gawking at airplanes (or birds, or whatever) but no more airplane vs car incidents.
FAR 91.151 - Explanation
During the day, no person may begin a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing, assuming normal cruising speed, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes
Wow, many times I've felt 'powerless', but never 'dropped in' on traffic - usually it was a bar.
[where do they find these idiots that write these headlines]
General Aviation Ping list. FReep mail me if you want on or off this list.
And he should consider himself fortunate, at that.
This could have very easily turned out much worse.
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