Three people walked away from the emergency landing of a Cessna Cardinal on the roof of a warehouse in Columbia, S.C., on Sunday. And it appears that in this case, hitting power lines actually helped. Pilot Larry Ross and passengers James and Joanne Keisler had just taken off from Owens Field in Columbia when the engine failed. With little wiggle room, they headed for the first flat surface. “We hit the power line and dropped right onto the roof,” Keisler told WLTX News. The three had some bumps and bruises but were not seriously hurt. Keisler credited Ross with the successful outcome. “Larry did a great job. I told him I would fly with him anytime,” Keisler said.
As of Monday, the plane remained on the roof as insurance adjusters and authorities figured out what to do next. The plane poked a hole in the roof and leaked some fuel but judging by the photos it doesn’t appear to be badly damaged.
