Small Plane Crashes into Lake Hood; Pilot Escapes Safely

Airport safety officials say the pilot was able to climb out of the cockpit onto a part of the plane that was above water.

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By KTVA CBS 11
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Story Created: Jun 8, 2011 at 9:35 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jun 8, 2011 at 10:31 AM AKDT

Airport police and fire officials were called to Lake Hood at about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday in response to a Cessna 182 floatplane that had flipped over onto the lake while coming in to land. The floatplane flipped over in the lake, cockpit facing downward, submerging the pilot under water.

Airport safety officials say the pilot was able to climb out of the cockpit onto a part of the plane that was above water.

Onlookers from boats in the area were then able to help the pilot reach the shore safely.

"The general public had helped in this, and you always are prepared for the worst in this and I can quite happily say there was the one pilot involved is almost unscratched. This looks a lot worse than it could have been, so it's a very happy ending for us all here," said Stephen Parry, operations officer at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

The lake was closed for 30 minutes during the rescue effort.

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