Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Havendale Boulevard, Winter Haven

**kellyhound** · #1 ● 04-22-2009, 09:32 AM

Kyle Davis, a flight instructor with experience in teaching emergency landings, unexpectedly found himself putting his skills to the test on a Sunday flight that became a high-stakes emergency.

Davis, accompanied by a professional videographer as his passenger, departed from Gilbert Field in Winter Haven on what should have been a routine 15-minute flight to the Sun 'N Fun Fly-In.

The decision to capture the journey on video seemed like a fun idea, given the many other planes heading to the same event.

However, just minutes after takeoff, the aircraft's engine experienced a series of failures. Davis, drawing upon his aviation expertise, managed to restart the engine after the first shutdown. Unfortunately, the engine failed again, not once, but three times.

John Amundsen, who had taught Davis how to fly, praised his calm and collected response to the crisis. "He was just awesome," Amundsen remarked, adding that he hoped to exhibit the same composure in a similar situation.

As the plane descended rapidly towards the ground, Davis had to make a split-second decision: attempt an emergency landing in a nearby lake or risk landing on Havendale Boulevard, one of Winter Haven's busiest streets.

Remarkably, fortune favored Davis as there was no traffic on his side of Havendale Boulevard. He skillfully executed the landing on the street, avoiding any collisions or accidents.

In the video footage captured during the ordeal, some words are bleeped out, attesting to the intense moments of fear and uncertainty. Davis admitted, "I was saying my prayers" during the nerve-wracking experience.

Despite the harrowing circumstances, both Davis and his passenger survived the emergency landing, and his quick thinking and aviation know-how played a pivotal role in ensuring their safety.