PILOT MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING, FLIPS PLANE, WALKS AWAY, LIVINGSTON TEXAS, 08/03/24...

Pilot Makes Emergency Landing, Plane Flips, Pilot Walks Away, LIVINGSTON, August 3, 2024 - Shortly after 11 am on August 3, 2024, a pilot in a small plane was flying about 20 miles north of Livingston. According to the pilot, D.R. Hill, 76, of Baytown, his engine made a couple of loud noises and he lost power. At this point, his plane began losing altitude. Hill wisely steered his plane back towards the closest airport (City of Livingston Municipal Airport). Hill stated that his engine was barely running and he was descending. Hill continued, "I was worried about landing in the water" (Lake Livingston). He made it to the airport and was now too high, but he had no choice to descend as fast as possible, and he managed to pull it off. He landed his plane on a short area, but was short of runway. As his plane entered the high grass, and due to recent heavy rains, his wheels sunk into the soft earth and caused his plane to flip over (end over end). Good Samaritans were nearby and helped Hill out, he received medical attention and other than a couple of cuts on his head, he was okay. The cuts were due to small roll bars that his head struck when the plane flipped. Hill was in good spirits and felt pretty good. Trooper Sean Barnes with the Texas Highway Patrol was dispatched to investigate. As for Hill, he said he'll take the wings off, load it into a truck and take his plane home.

Editor's Note: D.R. Hill was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and has been shot down and survived. He said that this wasn't his first rodeo. On behalf of the folks in Livingston/Polk County, Texas, A BIG SALUTE TO D.R. HILL FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR NATION.