The pilot of a single-engine plane safely made an emergency landing on a rural road east of Orcutt on Saturday afternoon.
Shortly after 4 p.m., personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol and American Medical Response were dispatched to an incident in the 2600 block of East Clark Avenue involving a Beechcraft Bonanza, county fire spokesman Mike Eliason said.
While traveling from Van Nuys to the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, engine problems occurred, leading the pilot to attempt to divert to the Santa Maria Public Airport, Eliason said.
No one was injured when the small plane touched down on East Clark Avenue between Dominion and Telephone roads and then came to a stop in a nearby ag business driveway.
The aircraft struck a power line during the forced landing but avoided traffic in the area, Eliason said.
Traffic on East Clark Avenue was restricted to a single lane for a time because of the emergency vehicles in the area.
Arrangements were being made for a tow truck or other method to try to remove the aircraft from the driveway of Glad-A-Way Gardens.
Late Saturday night, CHP emergency dispatch reports said the plane was moved to a building in the 2700 block of East Clark Avenue, with plans to try to fix and fly the aircraft from the site. If the pilot attempts to fly the plane from the location, arrangements would be made for law enforcement officers to shut down the road.
Likewise, law enforcement officers would provide escort if the plane ends up needing to be transported to an airport, according to the CHP.
The forced landing site sits about 5 miles southeast of the Santa Maria Public Airport.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. officials also were responding to repair the downed power line.
Officials with the Santa Maria Airport will notify the Federal Aviation Administration about the incident.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.