2 Escape Injury as Plane Lands in Field
A pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a field near a main street in Simi Valley after her Cessna 150 started “running rough,” authorities said Monday.
“Seeing as how we don’t have an airport, that made it a little interesting,” Simi Valley Police Lt. Neil Rein said.
Gabrielle Gerrits, 28, of Canoga Park was flying from Santa Paula to Van Nuys when the plane developed engine problems about 4:20 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.
Gerrits landed the plane without incident in an empty field at the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Stearns Street, Rein said.
Neither Gerrits nor her passenger, Gershon Ash, 29, was injured, Rein said. The only damage to the plane was a scuffed nose wheel, authorities said.
Federal Aviation Administration officials said they were investigating the incident but had not determined what caused the engine problems.
The airplane is scheduled to be disassembled and hauled to Van Nuys, Rein said.
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