Plane makes emergency landing on Calif. highway

[November 15, 2012]  ROCKLIN, Calif. (AP) -- A small plane has made an emergency landing in traffic on a highway median in the Sacramento area.

The California Highway Patrol says the aircraft landed safely Wednesday morning on a grassy center divide of Highway 65 near Rocklin as cars whizzed by. No injuries were reported.

Pilot John Mares says he was testing a new engine on the Beech BE35-33A when it lost power at about 3,500 feet, leaving him with no choice but to find a place to land.

A mechanic was on scene to see if the fuel pump failed. The highway remained open although traffic slowed down to see the plane.

The FAA says an inspector is on the scene. The CHP will close the northbound lane if the plane is cleared to take off.

[Associated Press]

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