Plane goes down in field soon after takeoff

Watsonville police investigate a single engine airplane that had engine trouble after takeoff from Watsonville Municipal Airport Saturday forcing the pilot to make a hard landing in a field west of Highway 1 near the end of Airport Boulevard. (Photo by Tarmo Hannula).

WATSONVILLE — A single-engine airplane plunged into a dirt field Saturday moments after taking off from Watsonville Municipal Airport.

The pilot and a student passenger took off about 1:10 p.m. and had just cleared the end of the runway in a 2000 Sierra Tecnam Light Sport plane when some form of mechanical failure occurred, according to airport operation supervisor Rob Robertson.

The fixed-wing craft swiped the top of a tree and clipped a telephone line before making a hard landing in the field on the west side of Highway 1. The impact tore away a landing gear and damaged the propeller. Robertson said the plane sustained wing damage as well.

For the complete article see the 07-03-2012 issue.

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