Any runway in an emergency
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 01:26 p.m., May 29, 2008
Updated 01:26 p.m., May 29, 2008
Engine problems apparently forced a Texas pilot to make an emergency landing Wednesday morning on U.S. Highway 75 at Tulsa, after taking off from the Emporia Municipal Airport earlier in the day.
Allen Braden of Houston told Tulsa authorities that he was flying the single-engine, four-seater Cessna 206 from Emporia to Houston when the engine woes began. He did not believe he could make it to Tulsa International Airport and subsequently began looking for an alternative landing area.
Emporia Airport Manager Don Tevis said that Braden stopped in Emporia a few days ago as he was taking his son, an insurance adjuster, north to do storm-damage assessment. The son’s work was expected to take several more days, and Braden decided to return to Houston.
“He was flying back home for his wife’s birthday, and was going back (north) next week,” Tevis said he had been told by Braden.
Braden, 66, stopped for fuel at the Emporia airport Wednesday morning.
The Tulsa World reported that Braden said when the plane’s engine began vibrating and smoking, he called Tulsa International and was advised to look for the highway.
“There was no way I was going to make it to the airport,” The World quoted Braden as saying.
Braden told World reporter Kelly Hines that he managed to avoid cars on the highway, which is wider than many runways, and landed the plane on the shoulder and southbound lane near 56th Street North.
The plane received damage to the left wing, which apparently clipped a mile-marker sign during the landing, according to Tulsa Police Department’s public information officer Leland Ashley.
“He appeared to be OK,” Ashley said. “He was on the side of the highway and actually gave a couple of interviews to the local media. He did not appear to be injured or even shaken up. We’re just grateful he was able to land and no one on the ground was injured.”
Ashley said that had the emergency landing occurred a bit earlier in the morning, when traffic was heavier, the results could have been tragic.
“Highway 75 is fairly busy regardless of the time,” Ashley said.
Braden is a former Marine with 46 years of flying experience, the World reported.
The landing Wednesday was Braden’s second emergency landing. The first, 22 years ago, occurred when Braden’s plane ran out of gas near Houston, the World reported.
The World story said that aircraft rescue crew members were called to the scene and helped push the plane to the highway’s shoulder until a wrecker arrived to tow it. One southbound lane of U.S. 75 was closed for about 90 minutes.
The Federal Aviation Administration was called to investigate the incident.
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