MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) – An 89-year-old pilot walked away with just minor cuts when his small plane crashed in the Intracoastal Waterway near this resort town.
Martin Geraghty of Englewood, Fla., was flying a 1979 Piper PA-28 to Massachusetts when he missed the approach to Grand Strand Airport. He was trying to gain more altitude to make another pass when a gust of wind got under a wing and flipped the aircraft, said Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Atlanta.
Geraghty, who has had his certification for 12 years according to FAA records, was able to walk away from the crash with cuts to his hands and arms Friday.
Rick Meres, chief warrant officer for the Coast Guard, said Geraghty was flying from Florida to Massachusetts and was planning to stop over in Myrtle Beach to stay the night and refuel. The Coast Guard was called to make sure the waterway was not blocked.
Meres said there was just about 15 gallons of fuel left in the plane that ended upside down in the water and little of it leaked.
The National Transportation Safety Board must give clearance before the plane can be removed, said Nicole Aiello, spokeswoman for North Myrtle Beach. Bergen said it may take a couple of weeks for the FAA to examine the aircraft for mechanical problems, interview Geraghty and review the records related to the plane before it issues a final report.
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