Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Crowded Beach

By Kristin Smith First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL -- The wind was calm and the sand was filled with beachgoers this weekend. Making an emergency landing with a plane at the beach in those conditions without hurting anyone takes skill and luck.

Jacksonville Beach resident Scott Crumpler saw it happen. Not a day goes by when he doesn't gaze out his balcony.

"Every day. Every day. And especially weekends when there's a lot of activity and people," said Scott.

After 14 years in his beachside condo, he's seen hundreds of planes fly past, too. But the one he saw this weekend was different from the rest.

"This plane was headed down the beach and it was much lower and it was descending," said Scott.

Scott knew something was wrong.

"I've never seen one descend down to the beach level," said Scott.

So he picked up his camera.

"I just grabbed it and went downstairs and ran down the beach," said Scott.

What he saw made him sigh with relief. The pilot landed on a piece of beach nearly empty. Some beachgoers did get quite a scare, though.

"I did talk to someone who was in the path of the plane and he had his children there and got them up and said let's move and the plane was able to stop short of where they were," said Scott.

He says it was scary, but had a happy ending.

"I'm glad nobody was hurt," said Scott.

The plane was towed to Craig Airfield. The pilot didn't want to comment on the experience.

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