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Man safe after plane crash
Power loss forced landing in Babbie
Published Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Georgia pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a Covington County cotton field Thursday afternoon, but walked away from the accident with no serious injuries.
Jonathan Lord, 26, of Columbus, Ga., was flying his Aeronca SuperChamp personal plane from Noonan, Ga., to Destin, Fla., when he experienced engine trouble around 12:38 p.m.
“I was flying down to Destin for a wedding, when I started losing power and the engine began to sputter,” he said. “I was able to get it restarted twice, but on the third time it gave out for good.”
Lord said he was able to maintain control of the aircraft and touched it down safely in a cotton field near Wages Road in the Babbie community. The plane sustained minor damage to its nose and landing gear, while Lord escaped the crash unharmed.
Lord said that at first sign of trouble he contacted the control tower at South Alabama Regional Airport with the intention of landing there, but had to make an emergency landing in the field about five miles north of the airport.
The airport fire department and crash rescue team responded to the scene, along with members of the Covington County Sheriff’s Office, Babbie Fire Department, Opp Police Department, Opportunity EMS and Alabama State Troopers.
The plane was towed to the airport and will remain stored at the hangar for several more days.
“Our fire department and crash team did an excellent job of responding to this incident,” said Jed Blackwell, administrator of the South Alabama Regional Airport. “Our air traffic control is highly trained for incidents of this nature. Everyone did a good job of responding.”
Blackwell said officials in the control tower first contacted him, and he responded by contacting E-911.
Lord said he has been flying for seven years and had not previously been forced to make an emergency landing.
“The engine has never quit on me before like that,” he said. “I’ve flown gliders in the past, so I was a little familiar with how to land an aircraft that has no engine. I was too busy trying to land the plane to worry about what might be the ultimate outcome; I just wanted to get down safely.”
Lord added that he appreciated the airport and emergency crew’s response.
“There was a lot of amazing support and response from every one,” he said. “I’m very thankful for every one who helped.”
Comments
Posted by cbrown05 (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
could it be...excessive moisture in the fuel system or a classic carburator icing condition?
Posted by star (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is Airport Fire Department doing responding out in the County??? If they are going to do that they might need to change there name!! All they are going to do by doing this is make the other fire departments in the county mad when they come into there area. I'am sure that if any other fire department needs there help they will call them.
Posted by andyman (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 7:21 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by andyman (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BESIDES YOU DIRT DUMB REDNECK IF YOU READ THE STORY HE HAD ALSO CONTACTED THE AIRPORT! PEOPLE LIKE YOU JUST SIT AROUND AND FIGURE HOW TO STIR THE CHIT IN A SMALL TOWN.GET A LIFE GO FISHING OR TAKE A WALK OFF A SHORT TALL BRIDGE STAR!
Posted by star (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well andyman just how long has the airport had a fire department??? What did this county do before then??? The fire departments outside of the airport went to any downed aircraft and they took care of it. I feel like when he contacted the airport he talk to the tower out there which is maned by fort rucker personal.
Posted by cco (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How dare they come off the airport to help with an AIRPLANE crash. And I saw this story on WSFA, the nerve of them. Don't they know we have our own T.V. stations. They need to stay out of Covington County before they make someone angry. Get a life star.
Posted by Ineedtobeheard (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Star, I really don't know what planet you arrived from. But seriously....there is no reason to slam the Airport Fire Department for responding to this incident. It could have very well turned out completely different for this young pilot. For Christ's sake, have a heart. Thank God that there was immediate response for this accident, and thank God, we don't depend on the likes of you for assistance in circumstances where help is needed. Thanks to everyone who assisted in the aid for this man. I'm sure he and his family are extremely grateful, not p*ssed off cause the wrong fire department may or may not have responded.....
Posted by CoonDog (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just a tidbit of information. Wages Road is in the Cedar Grove Community and not Babbie.
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I got to admit when I first read the headline for this story,I thought, Oh no,the sheriff is at it again,Hahah. Seriously I am glad the guy is okay. I don't think it matters which fire dept is there.
Posted by 362firefighter (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
as a firefighter out in the county, I personally want as much help as I can get, especially from the Airport since they are all certified. The more help the better, especially to something like a plane crash that the Airport specializes in
Posted by JMMJ (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Star - You are a complete idiot. Geez.
Posted by walnutwilly (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that it's great that the airport fire department responded to the crash. It would seem to me that they could handle a crash better then any other department. That is what they're trained for right?
Posted by bluesclues (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet it was the Sheriff in disguise, he just don't want the public to know those belly flops are coming so often for him and his test flying. Ya know, I already have "Meeks Phobia"----I can be outside and hear an airplane flying close by, and I start looking for somewhere to take cover!!------eeeeeeeek!
Posted by star (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well it's like this, What if there had been a a crash at the airport while thay was at Babbie or wherever. Who would have help with that problem??? If you are 5 miles away you or no help. I'am sure that if the fire department that went to crash would have called them if they needed them
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
star come on now, they went to help put out a fire. Whats the big deal?
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Or they thought that there may be a fire,I don't see the problem
Posted by Ineedtobeheard (anonymous) on February 21, 2009 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I"m still scratching my head to try and figure out what Star is so upset about the Airport Fire Department assisting this man in his plane crash. What's the big deal Star. While is is likely there could be two fires at the exact same time, it is also likely that there are other fire departments that would greatly assist one another.....after all, that's the reason they do this job, to help people in need, right??? I stand as before, baffled at your comments about who was where and when.....it really don't matter as long as everyone is safe. I don't think one fire department "gets mad" at the other for assisting them in putting out a fire....jeez!
Posted by ANDALUSIA222 (anonymous) on February 21, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Remind me never to run for Sheriff in this county . the man cant get a break.
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on February 21, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ANDALUSIA222... Oh the joys of being in public office. If you can't take criticism, might think about another line of work.
Posted by star (anonymous) on February 21, 2009 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ineedtobeheard what if you was in a plane landing at that airport at the time airport fire was at babbie or somewhere and your plane crashed and there was nobody there to help you. What then, I look at this way, why leave your area that you a suppose to cover with nobody there to cover it.
Posted by 362firefighter (anonymous) on February 21, 2009 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
star...thats the way it works everywhere...not just here in Covington County....you can look anywhere and find mutual aid...thats firefighting especially on the volunteer level...so, obviously, you don't know too much about firefighting/emergency response so why don't you just sit down and shut up
Posted by truebeliever (anonymous) on February 22, 2009 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
star, its a good thing that on 9/11 people didnt have your attitude. Thats what being a part of society is all about, helping your fellow man when he's in need, especially in the case of emergencys . you sound like some backwards jungle bunny.
Posted by proud_us_citizen (anonymous) on February 22, 2009 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Star, so what you're saying is, if an aircraft crashed just say 100 yards from the airport property lines, you wouldn't want the airport FD responding? It's off airport property; there might be a fire at the airport! They can't go!
Instead, let the volunteer firefighters who have little or no training/experience in dealing with aircraft crashes deal with the crash/fire. And worse yet, have additional injuries/deaths because of that.
Yeah, star, that makes a HEAP of sense.
I would rather have the guys who are trained in dealing with this kind of situation on the scene. No offense to our local FD's; they're a hard working group, and do all they can. I'm proud of what they do. But 99% of them aren't full time firefighters, and they don't have extensive training in these types of situations. So it just makes sense for the airport FD to respond as well.
Could a crash happen while they're gone? Sure, anything's possible. Stuff happens. But the likelyhood of such an event is next to nil.
Next time you should take a minute and look at the bigger picture, star. Instead of thinking in such small-mind contexts.
Posted by Kathy052 (anonymous) on February 22, 2009 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EXCUSE ME I AM JUST A DUMB WOMAN BUT STAR HAVE YOU LOOK THE WORD """""if""""" up in the let me see what do they call it??????????Oh I got it a DICTIONARY the biggest word in the world is IFFFFFFFFFF. Even I am smart enough to no that. Good Job Guys.
Posted by star (anonymous) on February 22, 2009 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well this county must have been bad trouble 2 years ago then!!!!
Posted by Kathy052 (anonymous) on February 22, 2009 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
O.K. I will bite the bullet.WHY? do you say that?
Posted by star (anonymous) on February 23, 2009 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The airport didn't have a fire department then. That means that the other fire departments covered anything that happened at the airport are around it. I wonder where airport fire was when the sheriff had his problem at that airport??? Andalusia fire went to it inside airport and there was no mention of airport fire anywhere.
Posted by Ineedtobeheard (anonymous) on February 23, 2009 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh for Heaven's sake star, I think you need to just vent or argue....I sure am glad I don't have to be around you 24-7.....the Airport Fire Department responded to an emergency which could have resulted in a serious problem....as did others who were called...luckily it wasn't a catastrophe and it was alright. Fire departments, regardless of where they are, are just that, FIRE DEPARTMENTS! They don't argue over who gets to put out the big one or the little one....grow up Star....they are just doing what they are trained to do.
Posted by realist (anonymous) on February 23, 2009 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would guess that the airport's fire fighting team has specialized training in containing fires caused by aircraft fuel and in rescueing people from aircraft. But really, who cares as long as everyone is safe.
Posted by andyman (anonymous) on February 24, 2009 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
star is a id10t that i would like to just whip the piss out of!
Posted by Kathy052 (anonymous) on February 24, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey star I see that you are so darn worried over the firedepartment I just read a story about 2 little kids around a drug meth lad. I didn't see you concern about those little kids.WHYYYYY
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