StoneyJ
Beach Comber
Youtube video of aircraft taking off from 17th fairway at Shark's Tooth Golf Course
On July 26, 2010 a Cessna 172 with pilot and 3 pax made an emergency landing on a golf course after the engine quit. News article at this link on the Panama City Herald.
A highly qualified instructor pilot from the aircraft's home base at Destin airport came to the course to fly the aircraft off since it was deemed airworthy by the FAA.
Following from eye-witness and his email that made its way through aviation threads:
"The pilot calculated he needed1,275 ft of runway (on asphalt) but had to add another 15% (1,466 ft) because of the "grass factor". Winds were 10-15 kts, dead ahead at take-off. His room for error was a mere 150ft! (Gents, that a sand wedge!)
At the t-box were two retired Delta Airline pilots who strongly urged the
pilot instructor not to even attempt it - take the wings off and cart the
plane out of there! He shrugged them off.
Larry (our Superintendant) and I jumped on a golf cart with a video cam and position ourselves about 850ft down the fairway to mark the point of "go or no go" for the pilot. If he could not lift all wheels by the time he got to us - he would have to ABORT! "
He made it folks!!
On July 26, 2010 a Cessna 172 with pilot and 3 pax made an emergency landing on a golf course after the engine quit. News article at this link on the Panama City Herald.
A highly qualified instructor pilot from the aircraft's home base at Destin airport came to the course to fly the aircraft off since it was deemed airworthy by the FAA.
Following from eye-witness and his email that made its way through aviation threads:
"The pilot calculated he needed1,275 ft of runway (on asphalt) but had to add another 15% (1,466 ft) because of the "grass factor". Winds were 10-15 kts, dead ahead at take-off. His room for error was a mere 150ft! (Gents, that a sand wedge!)
At the t-box were two retired Delta Airline pilots who strongly urged the
pilot instructor not to even attempt it - take the wings off and cart the
plane out of there! He shrugged them off.
Larry (our Superintendant) and I jumped on a golf cart with a video cam and position ourselves about 850ft down the fairway to mark the point of "go or no go" for the pilot. If he could not lift all wheels by the time he got to us - he would have to ABORT! "
He made it folks!!
