On August 19th, 2023, a potential tragedy was averted when a small aircraft, a Cessna 172, narrowly escaped a disastrous crash landing in the area of the Windsor Golf Course. The pilot reported experiencing engine failure to the Santa Rosa Airport Tower before attempting to safely land the plane on the golf course. According to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Santa Rosa Tower later lost radio contact with the pilot, prompting emergency response efforts involving Henry-One and other resources.
A Helico helicopter, which happened to be on a training flight at the time, joined the search for the downed aircraft. As Henry-One prepared to get airborne, the Helico pilot successfully located the crash site and relayed the information to the Henry-One crew via aviation radio. The plane was ultimately discovered in a vineyard on the 9000 block of Eastside Road in Windsor.
As the emergency responders arrived at the scene, the Cessna pilot, remarkably unharmed, managed to establish radio contact, confirming they were alright. According to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Henry-One was able to land nearby and the Tactical Flight Officer made contact with the pilot. While the pilot was medically examined as a precaution, they amazingly walked away uninjured from the incident.
Following the incident, deputies contacted the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will conduct an investigation into what led to the engine failure and subsequent emergency landing near the Windsor Golf Course.
