The pilot of a 1946 Republic RC-3 Seabee seaplane recalled the harrowing experience of an emergency landing on a main road in Central Phoenix on Sunday due to an engine failure.
According to 12 News, the pilot, Mike Tragarz, an airline pilot with more than four decades of flying experience, was forced to look for anything that resembled a runway after he realized he was losing altitude.
Thanks to Tragarz and his co-pilot’s quick thinking, they managed to land safely, suffering only minor injuries.
The plane took off from Hangar Hacienda and was cruising at around 2,500 feet when it suddenly lost power due to an engine failure.
What began as a leisurely flight over the valley soon turned into a desperate fight to make it back home alive. Describing the emergency, Tragarz said:
“I was about to call for a mayday to Sky Harbor to try to make it to Sky Harbor, and that’s when I noticed we were not holding altitude, we were descending, we had lost power.”
Fortunately, Tragarz found 7th Street between Missouri Avenue and Camelback Road empty and safe to make an emergency landing. After landing, the plane skidded to a halt on the road, damaging a water main. Fortunately, it avoided hitting buildings, houses, cars, or people. He added:
“I decided to literally look around and pick the best spot, and I couldn’t believe it looked like a landing strip. Literally, there were no cars.”
He added:
“It could have ended much different. We’re all lucky.”
Phoenix Fire Captain DJ Lee called the safe landing a miracle, given how busy the area usually is. He said:
“It’s 100% a miracle. This is a very busy street. It’s always busy, but for whatever reason, when he crashed in this little area, all of the traffic was away.”
Passenger Hanan Haskell said Tragarz was his hero:
“At the last moment, he dipped his wing to not hit the street sign, which was amazing.”
“He saved our lives basically. Mike is our hero today.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would investigate the incident that could have ended badly. The plane was eventually towed back to its hangar.
WATCH: A single-engine plane crash lands onto a busy Phoenix, Ariz. street, narrowly missing vehicles and power lines. All three people on board walked with just minor injuries. @meganspectortv has a full live report tonight at 9P.@FOX10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/bLYsDfzG07
— Trenton Hooker (@trentonhooker) April 13, 2026
