A small airplane lost engine power and made an emergency landing on a road in Goodyear, Arizona, according to the City of Goodyear. No injuries were reported, but the forced landing triggered a fuel leak that required a hazardous-materials response from local fire crews.
The plane came down near Hangar Haciendas Airport, a small private-use airstrip about 20 miles west of downtown Phoenix that carries the FAA facility identifier AZ90. The city said the pilot lost engine power and chose the roadway as the safest available landing surface. Emergency responders contained the fuel spill and secured the scene.
The city’s official news release did not specify the street where the landing occurred, the time of day, or the type of aircraft involved. The pilot’s identity and experience level have not been disclosed. No witness accounts have been published by the city or attributed to any named source.
A growing city with small airports nearby
Goodyear is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and its expanding residential neighborhoods sit close to several general-aviation airfields. Roads near those airports often run directly beneath approach and departure paths, which means a pilot who loses power at low altitude may have only seconds to pick a landing spot. A straight stretch of pavement shared with cars and pedestrians can be the safest option available…