From azcentral.com
A plane with a student pilot and instructor aboard lost power during takeoff Tuesday morning, clipping off the top of orange trees before coming to rest against a curb just short of Falcon Field Airport.
Nobody was injured when the plane came down near McKellips Road and Val Vista Drive about 11 a.m. McKellips was shut down as the incident was investigated.
The 1973 Cessna 150L prop plane was damaged, but Mesa Police Detective Steve Berry, who also is a pilot, said the outcome could have been much worse.
"I would say he did an excellent job. You have an aircraft where the engine completely quit. You don't have a lot of height or air speed," he said. "Fortunately it turned out for the best."
The plane is registered to Blue Sky Aviation at Falcon Field.
The student pilot was identified as Clarence McAllister by an employee, Alex Snopek, who came to the scene.
"Their pride is hurt. Bodily, physically, they're just fine," Snopek said. "They're shook up."
He said McAllister's primary concern was to land safely without hurting anyone driving on McKellips. Another concern was avoiding power lines a short distance away.
"He's training. He's about finished for his license. He wants to be confident he's a good pilot," Snopek said.
The plane ran into engine problems about 100 feet in the air and the pilot decided to take it down in the orange grove to cushion the landing. The student pilot and instructor declined medical attention.
Alberto Razo, a farm worker who was picking oranges nearby, ran to help the occupants after watching the plane make a crash landing.
"It made noise when it hit the orange trees and it hit the road," said Jose Salazar, a junior at Red Mountain High School. "I feel kind of scared."
A plane with a student pilot and instructor aboard lost power during takeoff Tuesday morning, clipping off the top of orange trees before coming to rest against a curb just short of Falcon Field Airport.
Nobody was injured when the plane came down near McKellips Road and Val Vista Drive about 11 a.m. McKellips was shut down as the incident was investigated.
The 1973 Cessna 150L prop plane was damaged, but Mesa Police Detective Steve Berry, who also is a pilot, said the outcome could have been much worse.
"I would say he did an excellent job. You have an aircraft where the engine completely quit. You don't have a lot of height or air speed," he said. "Fortunately it turned out for the best."
The plane is registered to Blue Sky Aviation at Falcon Field.
The student pilot was identified as Clarence McAllister by an employee, Alex Snopek, who came to the scene.
"Their pride is hurt. Bodily, physically, they're just fine," Snopek said. "They're shook up."
He said McAllister's primary concern was to land safely without hurting anyone driving on McKellips. Another concern was avoiding power lines a short distance away.
"He's training. He's about finished for his license. He wants to be confident he's a good pilot," Snopek said.
The plane ran into engine problems about 100 feet in the air and the pilot decided to take it down in the orange grove to cushion the landing. The student pilot and instructor declined medical attention.
Alberto Razo, a farm worker who was picking oranges nearby, ran to help the occupants after watching the plane make a crash landing.
"It made noise when it hit the orange trees and it hit the road," said Jose Salazar, a junior at Red Mountain High School. "I feel kind of scared."
