Plane bound for SLO airport makes emergency landing on road

The pilot of a single-engine plane safely made an emergency landing on a rural road east of Orcutt on Saturday afternoon.

Shortly after 4 p.m., personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol and American Medical Response were dispatched to an incident in the 2600 block of East Clark Avenue involving a Beechcraft Bonanza, county fire spokesman Mike Eliason said.

While traveling from Van Nuys to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, engine problems occurred, leading the pilot to attempt to divert to Santa Maria Public Airport, Eliason said.

No one was injured when the small plane touched down on East Clark Avenue between Dominion and Telephone roads and then came to a stop in the driveway of a nearby agricultural business, Glad-A-Way Gardens.

The aircraft struck a power line during the forced landing but avoided traffic in the area, Eliason said.

Traffic on East Clark Avenue was restricted to a single lane for a time because of the emergency vehicles in the area.

Late Saturday night, CHP emergency dispatch reports said the plane was moved to a building in the 2700 block of East Clark Avenue, with plans to try to fix and fly the aircraft from the site.

If the pilot attempts to fly the plane from the location, arrangements would be made for law enforcement officers to shut down the road.

Likewise, law enforcement officers would provide an escort if the plane ends up needing to be transported to an airport, according to the CHP.

The forced landing site was about 5 miles southeast of Santa Maria Public Airport.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. officials also responded to repair the downed power line.

Officials with the Santa Maria Airport will notify the Federal Aviation Administration about the incident.

This story was originally published October 30, 2022 at 12:34 AM.