Light aircraft hits power lines, lands on Russian River sandbar

A Santa Rosa pilot guided his experimental lightweight aircraft to an emergency landing on a Russian River sandbar near Duncans Mills on Friday, walking away unscathed from the plane that pulled down power lines before it came to rest.

Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman told the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department he heard an airplane flying low over the Russian River east of Duncan Mills at about 4:30 p.m. Baxman saw the plane strike a high-voltage wire and continue at treetop level over the river.

The plane struck two more wires, dragging the lines as it continued west along the river. The pilot flew under the Duncan Mills Bridge and set the plane down on a sandbar.

The pilot, Joseph Perez, 57, of Santa Rosa, and a passenger, Adam Perez, 22, of Salem, Ore., were standing outside the plane when Monte Rio firefighters arrived. Adam Perez was treated on the scene for a hand injury, but the pair was otherwise unharmed, the Sheriff's Department said.

Joseph Perez, a Santa Rosa broadband wireless technology consultant and private pilot, declined to comment Friday night.

The plane, an azure-colored 2002 Hardie Steven Aircam with tandem seats and dual engines, was left on the sandbar overnight, CHP Sgt. Robert Mota said.

"The impact was minor and the plane is off the road," Mota said. "My guess is they'll deal with removing the aircraft in the next day or two."

The plane trailed several hundred feet of copper electrical wiring behind it as made a hard landing. Mota said it was unclear why the plane was in trouble and if the pilot had landed because he had struck the wires or had hit them while coming down.

PG&E spokesman JD Guidi said power to 395 customers was cut by the accident. The lines were expected to be fixed around midnight.

Highway 116 was closed for about two hours while emergency and PG&E crews investigated and began work on the downed wires.

Perez is a private pilot rated for multi-engine and instrument aircraft, with five years' experience with the Air Force on air crew duty, according to his online resume.

The Sheriff's Department said federal aviation authorities have been contacted and will investigate the crash.

You can reach Staff Writer Laura Norton at 521-5220 or laura.norton@pressdemocrat

.com.