RFP Staff
♦ In the darkness late Monday night a single engine Piper aircraft struggled with fuel difficulties as it approached Rowan County Airport and attempted to switch tanks. With the pilot, along on this seat-gripper ride, were two passengers. We can imagine how they felt when they heard the pilot radio the airport tower that his craft was experiencing engine trouble. The lights seemed a long way off. Each pitch and swell of the small Piper could be felt as the airport lights drew closer.
The aircraft’s power went out. A deep collective breath.
As the plane trembled on its glide downward toward the runway lights, the pilot and passengers felt the craft’s fuselage sheer the tops of several light towers. Now the decent came faster and shortly the wheels bounced along the turf far short of the runway. Finally the Piper came to a halt some 500 feet away from the runway’s level surface.
Nobody was hurt. That’s something for which everyone felt thankful.
The FAA will investigate as they always do when such incidents occur.
