Paso Robles emergency services respond to downed aircraft
Neither party was injured in the crash
–On Tuesday at approximately 8:30 p.m., the Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services responded to an Alert 3, Category 1 Aircraft Incident near the Paso Robles Airport. Arriving resources found an upright aircraft in an agriculture field just south of Dry Creek Rd.
The single-engine Piper aircraft took off from the Paso Robles Airport with two people on board after a brief layover from the Bay Area. The student pilot and his instructor had an unknown cause engine failure prior to reaching full altitude. The instructor immediately took over the controls in an attempt to return and land at the airport safely. The pilot maneuvered the gliding aircraft from homes, power lines, and traffic, falling short of his attempt to reach the airport. Neither occupant sustained injuries. The aircraft sustained moderate damage without the release of any contaminants into the environment. FAA and NTSB were contacted from the scene.
Additional assistance provided by CAL FIRE, the Paso Robles Police Department, and the Paso Robles Airport Manager.
