A pilot whose plane lost power after taking off made an emergency landing at a golf course in Hayward Sunday afternoon, a fire spokesman said.
Firefighters were notified of the incident around 12:45 p.m. when a single-engine aviator plane landed at Skywest Golf Course at 1401 Golf Course Road, Hayward fire spokesman Don Nichelson said.
The plane had departed from the Hayward Executive Airport located near Hesperian Boulevard and West Winton Avenue where it lost power, Nichelson said.
The pilot, David Olsen, made an emergency landing at the golf course, which is adjacent to the airport, according to Nichelson.
“The oil line that controls the prop pitch might have broken and sprung a leak,” Olsen said.
Olsen was able to get out of the plane and was uninjured, Nichelson said.
The flight could have ended in disaster, but Olsen joked he yelled fire before setting his airplane back down on the golf course.
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“I’ve always been interested in aviation. Now I’ve experienced in from every angle,” Olsen said.
One of the wings leaked less than 10 gallons of fuel that was cleaned up by fire crews and did not become a hazard, according to Nichelson.
Olsen was the sole occupant of the plane, Nichelson said.
Golfers at Skywest said they are always aware of planes coming from the nearby airport.
“You’re always looking up," golfer Frank Kocyan said. "They’re always taking off and coming over. They fly right over you.”
Nichelson said the Federal Aviation Administration was called to conduct an investigation into the incident.
Single engine plane loses power on take off and lands at #hayward golf course. No injuries pic.twitter.com/cVx9Dh01Wu — Hayward Fire News (@HaywardFireNews) February 15, 2015
