This Cessna 210 suffered complete engine failure. The pilot called MAYDAY on the traffic advisory frequency and asked for assistance and priority for runway 33. Realizing that he wasn't going to make it to the runway he chose to land on a road just South of the airport. The aircraft struck at least three different road signs with the left wing causing significant damage. Both occupants walked away unharmed.

There are really nice smooth landing fields all around. Why didn't the pilot land in the beautiful smooth field next to the road? I don't know. I wasn't that pilot. I would have if I were flying it. I really wanted to land in the field next to him and ask him. Rich and I talked about it. I really wanted to land in the field next to him! But it would just be adding insult to the injury of the wrecked plane. Plus I knew that the County Sheriff would eventually say, "We know why he is here but why are you here?" Not having a better answer than because I wanted to show that the field was the better choice. And because it was fun. In end sanity prevailed and I didn't do it. We just circled around overhead at an altitude that wouldn't get us in trouble.

I was up flying with Rich that day. Rich took all of the flying pictures today. I took the ones later both of the retrieval and after the retrieval in the hangar.

 
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My passenger Rich took a large number of pictures. Let me call your attention to three in particular as an overall summary.

[Earliest] This is the earliest picture within minutes of the landing.

[Best Closeup] This is the best quality close in view.

[Where] This is shows the airport runway numbers for runway 33 in the frame and shows the relationship to the runway.

1m23s AVI file 29M: Cockpit video from my C140 overhead taken by my passenger showing relationship between road and runway. SOUND CAUTION: I haven't adjusted the sound level and this is raw recording of the loud cockpit sounds. I suggest you quiet your speakers before playing.

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