A shocking incident occurred at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, where a small airplane crashed onto a putting green, narrowly missing a golfer. The harrowing event was captured on video, showing the single-engine Piper PA28 skidding toward the 10th hole and the golfer leaping out of the way just in time.
New video shows plane skidding a long ways after crashing at Haggin Oaks golf course https://t.co/RP3OOZNJ3v
— The Sacramento Bee (@sacbee_news) August 6, 2024
This frightening episode unfolded around 1:20 p.m. on Sunday. The pilot, who experienced a complete mechanical failure at an altitude of about 400 feet, managed to walk away with only a minor cut on his hand. Miraculously, the golfer was unharmed.
Ken Morton Jr., vice president of Haggin Oaks, expressed his relief, calling it “a miracle of all miracles” that no one was hurt in such a typically crowded area. The pilot, in his 30s or 40s, had taken off from Sacramento’s McClellan Airfield. Realizing he couldn’t make it back to the airport, he chose the golf course as the safest place to land.
Capt. Justin Sylvia of the Sacramento Fire Department explained that the plane’s engine shut down, causing it to skid approximately 50 to 70 yards before colliding with a building on the property. During the crash, gas leaked onto the pavement, and a wheel detached from the aircraft. Tim Cowan, a golfer at the scene, initially thought the loud crash was a car accident.
I found this on NewsBreak: Plane crashes into popular Northern California golf course #MSNBC#MorningJoe#WayTooEarly #DeadlineWH#TheReidOut #Velshi #Maddow
Guess it pays to be on your toes & to look up from time to time if you’re outdoors!
https://t.co/j2N2NDBA6J— GG Pounce (@gglightbulb) August 5, 2024
The Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, known for its two golf courses, the largest on-course Golf Super Shop in the country, a restaurant, and a driving range, confirmed the incident on Facebook. They stated that no one was harmed and the facility suffered only minor damage. Due to clean-up efforts and safety precautions, the restaurant and pro shop were closed for the day, but the Golf Super Shop and driving range remained open.
Capt. Sylvia advised the pilot to buy a lottery ticket, highlighting the miraculous nature of the crash landing and the fortunate outcome that no one was injured.
Key Points:
- A single-engine Piper PA28 crashed onto the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, narrowly missing a golfer.
- The pilot experienced a mechanical failure at about 400 feet altitude and chose the golf course as the safest landing spot.
- Both the golfer and the pilot escaped with minor injuries; the golfer was unharmed, and the pilot had only a minor cut.
- The crash caused gas leaks and some damage to a building on the property but resulted in no serious injuries.
- The incident led to the temporary closure of the restaurant and pro shop at the golf complex, while other facilities remained open.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News