Only
the top of the roof, wing tip and tail section is visible above
the water line after an emergency landing along the beach on St.
Simons Island Friday afternoon. (Photo by: Joe Combs)
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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA – A pilot
flying from the Bahamas to North Carolina reported having engine problems.
The airplane, a 2002 Raytheon Bonanza
A36, was attempting to make it to the Saint Simons Island Airport when the pilot
made a judgment call and decided to attempt a crash landing into the ocean close
to shore.
The pilot was able to successfully
swim to the beach approximately 100 feet away at high tide. The pilot was
treated and released on scene.
Sea
Tow,
under the watchful eyes of law enforcement, preparing to raise
the downed aircraft and move out of the ocean and onto the beach.
The aircraft made an emergency landing approximately 50 yards
off the beach of St. Simons Island.
(Photo by: Joe Combs)
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The airplane registered in Michigan
was valued in the range of 450,000 dollars.
Resoponding to the incident were
Glynn County Fire and Police Departments as well as GA Department of Natural
Resources and the U. S. Coast Guard.
Little to no environmental impact
will be felt as the plane did not release any sizable amount of fluids.
One by-stander stated that "I'm just
glad no one was hurt."
Sea Tow Brunswick began the salvage
operations around nightfall to remove the aircraft from the water to the beach
where another company will salvage the plane.
