EASTERN REGION 11
airport. The pilot stated he did not think he could remain airborne and needed a road or something similar on
which he could land.
Wallace and Steinberg pulled out sectional charts and began to look for the closest highway. Wallace pointed
out Highway 58 in southern Virginia and attempted to inform the pilot that the area has terrain obstructions.
However, the aircraft was below ZDC frequency coverage.
Wallace: The minimum vectoring altitude in that area is 3,100 feet. There are a lot of terrain and mountains there
and there is Route 58 that goes to Danville. You probably should be pretty close there. It runs east-westbound maybe
a mile or two off your left or right side.
Wallace: Greensboro 230.
Greensboro: Greensboro west.
Wallace: Hey listen. That guy is coming down. Is there a highway or something that you could point me towards right
there?
Soon after, the pilot performed a forced landing onto the median of the highway, 10 miles east of Danville, Va.
During the landing, the aircraft impacted a tree and came to a stop upside-down. The pilot sustained minor
injuries while the three passengers on board were uninjured. Wallace and Steinberg's determination to get the
pilot navigational, weather, and highway information was essential to getting the aircraft on the ground safely.
Without their coordinated efforts, the incident may have resulted in loss of life.
RVP Dean Iacopelli:
This year's Eastern Region winners highlight the seriousness of what
we do every day within the National Airspace System. Richard
and Jaymi's professionalism and ability to think clearly through
a potentially disastrous situation shone through. All of us are
proud that our work as safety professionals is represented by our
dedicated bother and sister out of the Eastern Region.
NEA
