Emergency landing on Route 95 comes off without a hitch
Moving the plane through Quartzsite streets proved more difficult

When a Temecula pilot was forced to land this 1975 Piper Arrow just outside Quartzsite in the hot May weather, it seemed the worst was over.

However, it was only the beginning of a difficult period for both when the plane was further damaged by striking a fencepost while moving it through town, pulled along by a local motorist unskilled in moving such tricky cargo.

The pilot was commended for his quick thinking and skill, the incident occurred because part of the valve system broke, causing it to lose partial power. Oil quickly pooled beneath the engine when the plane was moved to the side of the road.

It was temporarily stored at the Main Event West property now owned by the W.A.S.P. Museum, where it was properly repaired with a new cylinder, piston and valves [along with the 30" tear in the right side wing] before flying it back to California.

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