The incident unfolded on a California highway within a county that hosts varying terrain and busy traffic. A light-engined aircraft made a controlled descent and touched down on the roadway, initiating a fire shortly after contact with the surface. The startling moment was caught on video by a dashboard camera from a vehicle travelling in the same lane, turning a routine drive into a dramatic record of the events.
The aircraft rapidly slowed as it rolled onto the road. The pilot, recognizing a rare opening in the traffic, steered toward a relatively clear stretch of the busy highway to complete the landing. During the approach, the plane was unable to sustain airspeed, and on impact with the pavement, another truck in the vicinity was struck, along with three passengers aboard the vehicle. The collision occurred as emergency procedures were being enacted in real time, creating a high-stress moment for everyone nearby.
In the cockpit, a passenger accompanied the pilot, sharing the unusual flight experience. Thanks to the pilot’s decisive actions and trained response, the incident concluded without fatalities, and none of the participants sustained serious injuries. The outcome highlighted the importance of training, quick decision-making, and a calm approach under pressure in aviation emergencies.
Pilot Andrew Choss described the sequence of events, noting that as the engine failed, he was already descending toward an intended landing at a designated airport. The aircraft managed a controlled descent and came to a stop after traversing a stretch of road, with an altitude described as roughly 6 to 8 thousand feet in the moment before the emergency landing was executed. He added that the skills practiced during training were instrumental in guiding the craft to a safe and orderly landing despite the challenging circumstances.
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Photo, video: YouTube [Video citation: Official footage from the incident is referenced for context and educational purposes.]