Anonymous
Source: Lompoc Police Department
A 1969 Cessna 172K plane made an emergency landing Wednesday afternoon at River Bend Park in Lompoc, resulting in no injuries to the single occupant of the plane or anyone on the ground.
Emergency responders were notified of the incident at 2:14 p.m. However, the plane landed at least 30 minutes prior, according to Lompoc Police Department Sgt. Bryan Dillard.
The pilot of the private plane, a licensed commercial pilot in his 50s based in Paso Robles, had reportedly been flying about six miles east of Lompoc and about 2,000 feet up in the air doing some mapping when the plane’s engine stalled in wet weather for undetermined reasons. The pilot attempted to glide towards the airport, Dillard said, but was unable to make it there and instead circled back around and landed safely at River Bend Park.
“It was a very soft landing, very controlled,” said Lompoc Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Terrones.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified of the incident.
