MAY 17, 2015
DURANGO, COLORADO
A Durango man flying a Cessna 150C over the Animas Valley
north of Durango Sunday reported an engine failure at an elevation of 10,000
feet, then made an emergency landing on a country road near homes and survived.
The pilot, Baudy Barnes, was not injured, La Plata County
Sheriff's Department spokesman Dan Bender said.
Deputies closed La Plata County Road 205 just north of
Durango.
Road crews were waiting for an aircraft mechanic to help
remove the wings from the damaged aircraft, Bender said, so it could be moved
from the road and trucked away.
Barnes had taken off Sunday from the Animas Air Park south
of Durango and was flying alone. It was unclear why the engine cut out, Bender
said.
As Barnes spotted the two-lane, paved county road and
descended, in a populated canyon within one mile of homes, the aircraft hit a
power line. But he was able to guide it down safely, Bender said, and no
injuries were reported.