Pilots identified in emergency landing on Highway 14

Washington State Patrol released the names of the pilots involved in landing a small propeller airplane Saturday on state Highway 14 during a training flight out of Pearson Field.

Instructor David M. Alexander, 35, of Portland, and student Trenton M. Morneault, 30, of Vancouver, made an emergency landing at about 4:50 p.m. Saturday on state Highway 14 westbound at Milepost 3 near downtown Vancouver.

“They were coming in for a landing at Pearson when there was a mechanical or power failure,” said Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn. “They were already at a low altitude. That forced the instructor to take over the plane and perform an emergency maneuver. One of the wings clipped a highway sign and there was minor damage to the plane and the sign. Nobody was hurt and no other vehicles were involved.”

Finn was unsure what the next steps are in investigating the emergency landing.

The airplane was moved onto the right shoulder of the road almost immediately. State police and Clark Country sheriff’s deputies were on hand within minutes. The right lane of the highway was partially blocked. William Gough, owner of the plane and of Aero Maintenance Flight Center, which has offered flying lessons out of Pearson Field since 1980, was also on scene, Finn said.

The FAA is investigating.