A pilot who encountered engine trouble as he flew north from Winter Haven airport on Friday, landed safely in Lake Hancock, Winter Haven deputies said.
48-year-old Eric McCoy of Winter Haven landed his 1946 North American Navion in Lake Hancock, located between Winter Haven and Lakeland, around noon on Friday, after his engine failed. He was not injured.
McCoy had taken off from Winter Haven airport and flew north when the engine began sputtering, then completely failed. He told deputies his options were limited, so he decided to land in Lake Hancock and called in a “May Day” to the Bartow Municipal Airport tower. He was able to safely “hard land” in the lake without power. Deputies said, the area where McCoy landed was about 4 feet deep.
Harry Shannon, Winter Haven, and owner of Amphibians Plus, at the Bartow Municipal Airport, heard the May Day call and immediately took off heading for Lake Hancock. Shannon was able to land on Lake Hancock and motor to the site of the hard landing.
McCoy was able to get out of the aircraft and climbed from the wing of his plane onto Shannon’s plane. Shannon returned to Bartow Municipal Airport.
McCoy was checked out by Polk County EMS and cleared. He sustained no injuries.
[…] Source: https://westorlandonews.com […]