Andrew Bohan
08-12-2008, 06:13 PM
http://bc.images.trb.com/media/thumbnails/story/2008-08/41578913-12100940.jpg
NEEDLES -- The pilot of a homemade, experimental aircraft was killed after making an emergency landing on a Southern California freeway. Officials say the pilot was in the middle of take-off when a car slammed into the aircraft, ejecting him. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
The San Bernardino County sheriff's office says three people in the car suffered minor injuries due to broken glass from the vehicle's windshield.
"We have one fatality aboard the plane, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said about 9 a.m. "It was a forced landing -- an emergency landing on the freeway."
Witnesses say the plane was taking off and was about 3 feet off the ground when the car slammed into it.
The Titan Tornado landed on the Interstate 40 connector road to Interstate 95 north, about 10 miles west of Needles in eastern San Bernardino County.
The tiny plane is sold as a kit to build-it-yourself owners. According to the company's Web site, there are two models: The Tornado I and II.
The Tornado II is a slightly larger and more powerful version, with a 65-horsepower motor and weighing 1,000 pounds fully loaded. It costs about $15,000 and will fly at 110 mph for up to 275 miles.
Car Slams Into Plane on Freeway, Killing Pilot | News | News And Video | KTLA - Los Angeles CW Source | Covering Los Angeles News and Entertainment and showing the hottest LA Video | KTLA The CW | Where LA Lives (http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-needles-plane,0,6572955.story)
NEEDLES -- The pilot of a homemade, experimental aircraft was killed after making an emergency landing on a Southern California freeway. Officials say the pilot was in the middle of take-off when a car slammed into the aircraft, ejecting him. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
The San Bernardino County sheriff's office says three people in the car suffered minor injuries due to broken glass from the vehicle's windshield.
"We have one fatality aboard the plane, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said about 9 a.m. "It was a forced landing -- an emergency landing on the freeway."
Witnesses say the plane was taking off and was about 3 feet off the ground when the car slammed into it.
The Titan Tornado landed on the Interstate 40 connector road to Interstate 95 north, about 10 miles west of Needles in eastern San Bernardino County.
The tiny plane is sold as a kit to build-it-yourself owners. According to the company's Web site, there are two models: The Tornado I and II.
The Tornado II is a slightly larger and more powerful version, with a 65-horsepower motor and weighing 1,000 pounds fully loaded. It costs about $15,000 and will fly at 110 mph for up to 275 miles.
Car Slams Into Plane on Freeway, Killing Pilot | News | News And Video | KTLA - Los Angeles CW Source | Covering Los Angeles News and Entertainment and showing the hottest LA Video | KTLA The CW | Where LA Lives (http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-needles-plane,0,6572955.story)