Small Plane Flips Over on Beach Landing

News Release from: Cowlitz Co. Sheriff's Office SMALL PLANE FLIPS OVER ON BEACH LANDING


Posted: April 13th, 2012 4:36 PM

Kalama, WA-A small, Cessna-type airplane flipped over while doing touch-n-go's on a Columbia River island beach.

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, Cowlitz Dive Rescue, Kalama Police, Kalama Fire and the Columbia County Oregon Sheriff's Office all responded to a report to a plane crash into the river at around 3:20, Friday afternoon. The report stated that a four-passenger plane had hit the water and flipped over and was floating in the river.

When the rescue boats arrived, they learned that the pilot had been doing touch-n-go's on the south end of Cottonwood Island on the beach. The pilot, who is out of Yacolt, WA, took off from his property there, and flew to the area of Cottonwood Island. There, he began the landing and take off maneuver which is done recreationally in a specially equipped aircraft. The plane is outfitted with large, oversize rubber tires that are designed to facilitate beach landings.

"It seems that we get a couple of these per year, it seems. This is a form of recreation for these pilots, but when one flips over, it certainly gets folks excited." Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson

"We're just really happy that the pilot wasn't injured. Obviously, the Lord was watching over this gentleman this afternoon." Sheriff Mark Nelson

The Coast Guard also responded and the information was turned over to the FAA.