When a plane lands on a highway, can it be allowed to take off again?

[Owen Lucas]

https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/traffic-backed-up-after-small-plane-lands-on-interstate-15

"The single-engine Cessna T206 touched down in the center median of the I-15 in San Diego around 4:45 p.m. on Monday after radioing an emergency call over engine failure"

If there are no power lines, why can't the plane take off again? Close the highway and off you go.

Why do I have a feeling there are 100 different FAA rules not allowing this.

 

[mrsilv04]

How will it take off again after suffering engine failure?

 

[Hall]

How will it take off again after suffering engine failure?

There are cases where it was a false alarm, though I doubt a mechanic is going to diagnose and investigate it too deeply on the side of a highway.

On this topic, for any plane that this happens with, has anyone ever seen the recovery process ? I mean, some will fit on a large flat-bed and can be moved that way, but what about when it's a bit bigger ? They don't have to partially disassemble it, do they ?

 

[wavinwayne]

How will it take off again after suffering engine failure?

The engine just has to bootstrap and "unfail" itself. Simple.

 

[Astro14]

Serviceable airplanes don’t land on highways.

They had a problem.

Best to have the whole thing checked and inspected for damage, then repaired in a proper facility. Airplane repair isn’t done on a road side.

Right, @Cujet ?

 

[4WD]

Maybe on the series Landman

 

[Pew]

How will it take off again after suffering engine failure?

Junkyard LS swap it!

 

[fdcg27]

This airplane weighs less than 2500 pounds empty, so it would not be a difficult lift onto a trailer.
You'd have to remove the wings, a straightforward process on a strut braced Cessna like this one, which means you'd have to drain the tanks first.
Back to an airport where a tech can reattach the wings and diagnose and repair the engine.
If the owner is very unlucky the engine will need to be replaced = $$$$.

 

[jetman]

https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/traffic-backed-up-after-small-plane-lands-on-interstate-15

"The single-engine Cessna T206 touched down in the center median of the I-15 in San Diego around 4:45 p.m. on Monday after radioing an emergency call over engine failure"

If there are no power lines, why can't the plane take off again? Close the highway and off you go.

Why do I have a feeling there are 100 different FAA rules not allowing this.

Yes
I have a friend that has done it twice. Had a mechanical issue, landed on a hwy, fixed the problem, police block traffic, and he took off.

 

[AZjeff]

Junkyard LS swap it!

Been done. Skip ahead to 12:00 to hear it run.

 

[wwillson]

It is possible to land a small airplane on a highway, fix the problem, and take off again. Of course, the road would need to be closed and authorities would need to be involved. I have seen it done.

 

[Astro14]

It is possible to land a small airplane on a highway, fix the problem, and take off again. Of course, the road would need to be closed and authorities would need to be involved. I have seen it done.

Fair enough, depends on the nature of the problem.

If the problem is, say, running out of fuel, then, you fill it up, replace the defective stick/throttle interface unit, and take off.

 

[k1xv]

Hey, I have a cousin who flipped his work truck on its side. The police (who he knew) helped him put it back right side up and he drove home. No investigation, no ticket, no police report.

I am sure the same officers would allow an airplane and its pilot to continue on their way.

 

[Pew]

Been done. Skip ahead to 12:00 to hear it run.

#LStheworld

 

[K-Man]

Yes
I have a friend that has done it twice. Had a mechanical issue, landed on a hwy, fixed the problem, police block traffic, and he took off.

Twice? You sure the aircraft was the real problem?

 

[edyvw]

5 min from my house, this morning around 4 am:
Small plane makes emergency landing on Powers Boulevard; Pilot’s mayday call captured on audio
https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2025/10/01/plane-make-crash-landing-in-northeast-colorado-springs/

He clearly was going for COS runway 17L as it is just ahead few miles (where he “landed” you can see landing lights clearly).
No injuries.

 

[Astro14]

5 min from my house, this morning around 4 am:
Small plane makes emergency landing on Powers Boulevard; Pilot’s mayday call captured on audio
https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2025/10/01/plane-make-crash-landing-in-northeast-colorado-springs/

He clearly was going for COS runway 17L as it is just ahead few miles (where he “landed” you can see landing lights clearly).
No injuries.

Yeah…not flying that one out!

 

[Cujet]

Serviceable airplanes don’t land on highways.

They had a problem.

Best to have the whole thing checked and inspected for damage, then repaired in a proper facility. Airplane repair isn’t done on a road side.

Right, @Cujet ?

100% correct. However, I do have to wonder about the content of the fuel tanks on just about every light aircraft 'engine failure'....

IIRC, Alaska is about the only place where landing on the roads is explicitly allowed when performed safely. States have laws preventing landing on roads, and the FAA views it as unsafe.

 

[BusyLittleShop]

Coordinate with law enforcement and be quick...

 

[Wylie6G72]

I saw a video of recovery years ago, it was quite a process. They detached the wings and put the plane on a trailer and hauled it away.