Plane's landing cut short by truck

FRESNO -- The pilot of a single-engine plane walked away from a crash Saturday night after he flew into the side of a furniture truck while trying to land at an airport.

There were no injuries. Damage to the plane looked extensive, and the roof of the cargo area of the truck was sheared off.

Debris from the accident was scattered for hundreds of feet alongside the crash site.

The plane hit the ground about 25 feet short of the runway at Sierra Sky Park.

Fresno Fire Battalion Chief Chuck Tobias said it looked like the landing gear of the plane hit the truck and "sheared off a good portion of the roof."

"The plane then continued for a very short distance, but crashed short of the runway."

The accident closed both Sierra Sky Park and one lane on Herndon as firefighters and police investigated.

The airport has a 2,900-foot runway, and a Federal Aviation Administration Web site said that 40 aircraft are based at Sierra Sky Park.

Tobias said the airport, which serves small private planes, was expected to reopen shortly.

"There's actually no debris on the runway," Tobias said.

The Mor Furniture truck came to a stop 200 yards to the west after the collision. The two men in the truck, and the pilot of the plane, were talking to investigators and not available for comment.

Tobias said it was not the first incident at one of Fresno's three airports.

"But this is the first time I've seen an airborne plane hit a passing vehicle," he said.

------ (c) 2008, The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.).

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AP-NY-10-11-08 2300E