Motorists on an area highway saw an unusual sight late Friday afternoon.
A single-engine plane landed on Mississippi 35 near Mississippi 13 North around 5 p.m.
According to a Columbia Police Department report, an emergency call came in to Marion County Central Dispatch at 4:51 p.m. The call, from air traffic controllers, said that a plane that had taken off from the Columbia-Marion County Airport was having engine trouble. The pilot, Christopher Daniels of Jayess, circled and landed on Mississippi 35 between Washington Avenue and Industrial Park Drive. Witnesses said the propeller was not turning as the 1967 Piper Cherokee D landed on the highway and pulled off into the parking lot of Southern Tire Mart.
According to the report, Daniels had taken off from the airport and experienced a loss in oil pressure. According to the FAA registry, the plane also belongs to Daniels and had a valid certificate, which was granted on Feb. 25, 2015, and expires on Feb. 28, 2018. According to the FAA documents, the aircraft has a Lycoming O&VO-360 SER engine and was first certified airworthy on Nov. 28, 1967.
Officials at the scene said only the pilot was on board. The aircraft could not be moved until the FAA permitted it.
In addition to CPD officers, deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia Fire Department and AAA Ambulance Service responded to the scene. Officers secured the scene while the pilot looked for solutions to return to the aircraft to the airport for maintenance work.
The FAA is investigating the incident.
Pictured Above: Law enforcement and emergency personnel inspect the plane last Friday. | Photo by Mark Rogers
