TRR photo by Chris Conroy Members of the White Lake Volunteer Fire Department stand watch over the small plane that landed unexpectedly in Smallwood. (Click for larger image)

Not quite there

By CHRIS CONROY

SMALLWOOD — The afternoon of March 27 is one that won’t be quickly forgotten for a number of Bethel’s finest and bravest. That was the day they responded to a call for a plane down in Smallwood.

Bethel Constable Ray Neuenhoff was the first on the scene. He received a call just before 4:00 p.m. about a plane flying over Smallwood with no engine sound. Neuenhoff headed up to the end of West Delaware Place, off West Oak Street, on the opposite side of Smallwood from where the plane was first sighted. “I knew right away it was in this field,” he said. Sure enough, the plane had landed in the field behind the home of Paula and Harold Barber.

Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputies, State Troopers, White Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Bethel EMS joined Neuenhoff at the scene. In the landing, the plane and field sustained minor damage. There were no injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), originally en route to the site, later decided a visit was not necessary.

The pilot, who was on his way to refuel at Sullivan County International Airport during a trip from Canada to Long Island, had to perform the emergency landing because he lost oil pressure while in flight. “If it had happened two minutes later,” he said, not wanting to identify himself, “I would have made it to the airport.”

Fire department members towed the plane on Thursday to a road adjoining the field, removed the wings and transported it to the airport.

“If my wife finds out about this,” the pilot said, “she’s never going to let me fly again.”