Drivers on State Highway 71 near La Grange got an unexpected show Thursday afternoon when a small single-engine plane dropped out of the sky and onto the eastbound lanes, then rolled safely off the roadway after the pilot reported mechanical trouble.
The aircraft made the emergency landing in Fayette County, touching down on the pavement before pulling off near La Grange. Authorities said there were no injuries and no significant damage. Deputies and troopers secured the scene while crews checked out the plane.
According to CBS Austin, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office said the plane was unable to reach La Grange Airport and put down on the eastbound lanes of Highway 71 before moving off the highway. Fayette County deputies, La Grange police and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded, and the Federal Aviation Administration was notified. The report credits a photo of the scene to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.
Why a Highway Might Be the Safest Option
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook tells pilots to constantly evaluate forced-landing options if an engine problem or other emergency crops up, scanning for the safest possible surface. In some situations, that can include an open stretch of roadway, especially when a nearby airport is just out of reach.
La Grange's nearest public field is the Fayette Regional Air Center (3T5), which sits about two miles west of town, per AirNav.
Response and Next Steps
The sheriff's office posted that the aircraft landed safely with no injuries or significant damage. CBS Austin reports it contacted the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and the FAA for more information.
Officials did not immediately release additional details about the aircraft or the cause of the mechanical trouble as of the initial report.
