At approximately 5:00 pm today the FAA called looking for a Beachcraft airplane. The pilot had radioed in saying that his cockpit was filling with smoke from the front panel. Shortly after he went below radar and the FAA could not get an answer from him. He had already crossed the St. Johns Airport and the Holbrook highway. All surrounding airports were contacted,no one had seen him. Two airplanes landed here and were asked to keep an eye out for a downed aircraft. At 6:00 Gary and I traveled the Holbrook road for 20 plus miles to see if we could spot anything. It is weird because you are afraid you will find something and afraid you won't. We came back into town and had some errands to run, then about 8:30 Gary called the FAA to check on the plane. Somehow this pilot had made it to his destination. The smoke had fried the radio wires which is why he was not answering. Hello, are you kidding me!! Why would you continue to fly with smoke filling your cockpit??? We suspect that the FAA will meet with him to ask the same question. We are just relieved that he is ok.
The company that picked up the last aircraft reminded Gary that accidents tend to come in 3's, so we were worried that we were starting that trend once again. Cross your fingers that it doesn't. A prayer or two would be nice also!!!!
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