Practice runs behind the controls of a small airplane took a scary turn Saturday night when it lost power and crash-landed in a church parking lot. It’s the second plane crash in three days in Pierce County.
Graham Fire and Rescue tells KOMO News that three people were on board including a student pilot, a trained pilot, and a passenger. The student pilot had been doing touch-and-goes at nearby Thun Field for roughly 15 minutes. When the plane lost power shortly after the last takeoff, the trained pilot took over. At first, he tried landing in a field but the plane rolled through 187th St. E and into the parking lot of Holy Disciples Parish where it came to a stop.
“They tried to restart the engine multiple times and they needed to set it down,” said Assistant Chief Steve Richards with Graham Fire and Rescue. “When the crews got here they found the plane missing a wing at the church.”