Seaplane makes emergency landing on Phoenix street after engine failure; pilot and passengers escape with minor injuries
A pilot and two passengers escaped with only minor injuries after a seaplane was forced to make an emergency landing on a Phoenix street Sunday following an engine failure mid-flight.
The aircraft, a 1946 Republic RC-3 Seabee, was being flown on a recreational trip after departing from a private runway in Laveen when the engine suddenly lost power at about 2,500 feet, according to the pilot. As the plane began losing altitude, the pilot, Mike Tragarz, said he initially considered declaring a mayday and attempting to reach Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport before realizing the aircraft could not maintain altitude.
Tragarz ultimately guided the plane down onto 7th Street, managing to avoid vehicles, pedestrians, and buildings. He said he scanned for an open stretch of road and was able to identify what appeared to be a clear landing area. At the final moment, he adjusted the plane’s wing to avoid a street sign before touching down.
The plane came to a stop after skidding along the roadway, striking a water main and some landscaping, but causing no major additional damage. Officials and witnesses described the outcome as extraordinary, given the busy nature of the area, noting that traffic happened to be minimal at the time of the landing.
Passengers credited the pilot’s quick thinking and experience for safely bringing the aircraft down. One passenger said the pilot’s actions likely saved their lives, while others who witnessed the landing expressed shock at how smoothly it was executed under the circumstances.
Tragarz, a retired airline pilot with more than four decades of experience, said his training helped him respond instinctively in an emergency. He described the outcome as fortunate, saying it could have ended very differently.
The aircraft, considered rare with only a few hundred still believed to be in operation worldwide, was later towed from the scene and returned to its hangar. The incident is expected to be reviewed to determine what caused the engine failure.
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