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Plane takes crash landing on Plano golf course
By Stephanie Flemmons, Staff Writer
A 24-year-old pilot maneuvered a plane from 2,500 feet with engine failure to a crash landing into a sand trap Thursday afternoon.
Lance Sparks walked away without injury and no one on the Prestonwood Country Club Hills course in West Plano was hurt. The sand trap needed a little work.
Sparks said he was flying into Dallas form Paris, Texas and was only about 1.5 miles away from his destination.
Sparks said he started experiencing engine difficulties, but was able to work with it and get the plane restarted while en route. But moments later he said the propeller stopped and he knew he was in trouble.
“I just had to work with it and do what I know best about flying,” Sparks said. “I’m real familiar with this area and knew this area was the clearest around. I looked for the straightest and longest green. You can still fly a plane without an engine, just not very far.”
Sparks landed on the tee box on a par three hole and was thrown into a sand bunker on a par 5 hole.
“I’ve been involved in motocross so I’m used to some bumps and bangs,” Sparks said. “But, this was definitely a ride.”
Sparks was traveling westbound in his 1964 Cessna when it began experiencing difficulties.
He said this accident will not keep him from doing what he loves.
“I have no second thoughts about flying again,” Sparks said. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
The FAA is currently investigating the crash.
Contact Stephanie Flemmons at sflemmons@acnpapers.com
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
kara wrote on Jan 22, 2009 8:02 PM:
" he can fly a plane but he cant pay child support amazing "
Jack Handy wrote on Jan 22, 2009 8:46 PM:
" Got Fuel Management? This moron has been known to land and have the plane die still on the runway because he is out of fuel. "
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