WEST JORDAN, Utah, Jan. 15, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The pilot of a small aircraft made an emergency landing on the north side of New Bingham Highway Tuesday morning.
Officer Scott List with West Jordan Police Department told Gephardt Daily the plane landed just south of South Valley Regional Airport, at 7365 S. Airport Road (4500 West), at approximately 11 a.m.
The 42-year-old pilot, who is from Lehi, was the only person in the plane, List said.
“He was doing what is called touch and goes where you line up with the runway then come down, land and take off again,” List said. “When he came down for this particular one he made it sound like his throttle might have been stuck, like the engine RPMs were high, which increases the speed, and he decided he was going too fast to safely land so he was going to abort that takeoff, come around for another pass.”
As the pilot gained altitude, List said, the plane’s engine cut out and it dropped down on the north side of New Bingham Highway.
“We’re lucky he didn’t hit a car and he’s up and walking around and claims no injuries so we’re happy with that,” List said.
No cars were struck but traffic has been reduced to one lane in both directions as a result of the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and will be investigating the incident.
Salt Lake City police also responded as they own the airport.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information is made available.
