Engine Trouble Reported To Be Cause

We've all heard the old pilot saying "a good landing is one you can walk away from" -- well, thankfully one FedEx feeder pilot did exactly that on Friday night.

At approximately 2045 on Friday evening, a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CSA Air for FedEx made an emergency landing in Ada Township, MI, six miles North of Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Cascade Township near Grand Rapids. The pilot reported engine trouble before disappearing from radar at 2039.

The aircraft lost power completely, and the pilot wasn't able to restart the engine. He executed an emergency landing in a field. The Caravan's left wing was sheared off by trees before touching down while going about 90 mph. Photos show the nose gear also collapsed and the outer right wing also damaged.

The unidentified pilot was not injured in the crash, and went to a nearby house for help. "The pilot is very fortunate to have missed houses and trees and make it out in one piece," said Kent County sheriff's Lt. Jerry Miedema to The Grand Rapids Press.

The Cessna Caravan had departed Traverse City, MI around 2000 on a flight plan to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Cascade.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

FedEx spokeswoman Sally Davenport says the plane belongs to CSA Air Inc., which carries freight under contract with Memphis, TN-based FedEx.

According to WOOD-8, CSA Air is an express cargo carrier based in Kingsford, MI serving Michigan and several other Midwest states. The company website states it operates 29 aircraft in 52 scheduled flights daily.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.airt.net/csa.html