CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – A small plane carrying two men crash-landed into trees near the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Wild Horse Creek Road Tuesday evening, according to local fire officials. Remarkably, no injuries were reported following the dramatic incident.
The Monarch Fire Protection District received an emergency call at approximately 6:05 p.m. reporting a plane down in a wooded area. Responders arrived to find the aircraft nose-first in the trees, suspended by branches and supported by its emergency parachute system, which firefighters say likely saved the pilots’ lives.
Plane Experienced Trouble After Takeoff
Fire Marshal Jim McKay with the Monarch Fire Protection District said the plane had departed from Spirit of St. Louis Airport and was on its way back when it began experiencing difficulties.
“The pilots reported the plane started banking left and right before it began to go down,” McKay said. “It was about 1,300 feet in the air when it started descending.”
According to McKay, the small aircraft was equipped with a ballistic recovery parachute, a safety device designed to slow the plane’s descent in the event of engine failure or loss of control. The parachute was successfully deployed as the plane went down, allowing it to land nose-first into the trees without catastrophic impact.
“I was surprised there was a parachute. They’re very fortunate,” McKay added.
No Injuries Reported
Both men aboard the plane were evaluated by emergency crews at the scene and declined medical treatment. Firefighters described the outcome as “miraculous,” noting that such crashes often result in serious injury or worse.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the two individuals involved.
Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to investigate the cause of the crash. Early indications suggest mechanical issues may have led to the plane’s instability before the emergency landing.
Traffic along Wild Horse Creek Road was temporarily restricted Tuesday evening as fire crews and investigators secured the site and examined the wreckage.
Residents in the area reported hearing a loud noise followed by a whooshing sound, which authorities believe was the deployment of the aircraft’s parachute system.
Safety Systems Credited for Preventing Tragedy
Aviation experts note that small aircraft parachute systems have saved hundreds of lives worldwide. The devices, now standard on many newer light aircraft, can dramatically reduce crash impact when activated properly.
“This case shows just how vital those safety systems can be,” McKay said. “Without that parachute, this outcome could have been very different.”
The wrecked plane will be removed once federal investigators complete their on-site analysis.
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