Landing on an Interstate

azpilot

azpilot

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azpilot
I am talking about this purely from an emergency point of view. If you have an engine failure and the "best" spot to land is a long stretch of interstate, how do you pull it off?

How do you squeeze yourself in between the cars? Obviously, you can't just put your blinker on and merge with traffic. Are there any techniques that you should use? Do you just try and find an opening and do your best to "squeeze" in?

As I sit here thinking about it, my biggest concern would be matching the speed of traffic and finding the right space to fit into traffic. If it's too busy, and there isn't room to "fit" in, I think you'd just have to find a better "best" spot to land. There's no sense in killing someone on the ground just because I think the road their driving on is a good emergency landing spot.

I am not planning on doing this any time soon. This is purely just a hypothetical question. I like to try and think about what I would do during an emergency ahead of time, so that less mental capacity is used when the emergency actually happens.
 
Folks land on interstates fairly often. Signs on the sides are a problem in addition to vehicle traffic.
 
In case of busy traffic, the median or just to the side of the shoulder might be flat enough to be survivable....
 
Land opposite direction to traffic. That way they'll see ya coming!

(snark, snark, snark)
 
I agree with above, seems sign posts and stuff like that cause more problems than the cars.

Never landed on one myself, I hear folks in AK do it ;)
 
South Korean Air Force fighters land on their version of the interstate. The signs are hinged so they can be lowered, ramp areas at each end of whatever the length is, and of course they block off vehicle traffic. I imagine that portion is built to be capable of landing planes. Mainly for emergency/war time use. When I was there in the mid 70s Korean AF F-4s would practice occasionally.
 
Come in with extra airspeed at 30ft AGL (and hope there isn't an overpass or overhead sign)...as you scrub off airspeed, they should slow down to watch the show.

While we are armchair emergency landing, I would not intentionally risk anyone's well-being by landing on an interstate with any appreciable traffic on it. It wasn't their fault that I hop in a plane and go flying around and decided to come down on top of them. In a real emergency, who knows what I would do. I might aim for the panda exhibit at the zoo....pandas are soft.
 
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Yeah I always thought that if traffic was sparse enough I might land on an interstate (4 lanes). The center line of the right lane should give me enough clearance for my wingtips. My approach speed would be such that, if landing in front of a car I'm going faster than the car. I descend in front of him and he says "#$%^&*(!!" and hits his brakes. If it's obvious I need to land behind a car then I might drop full flaps and bring it in slower so I land behind the guy, then veer my **** onto the shoulder ASAP before the next guy comes along.

Traffic would have to be pretty sparse I think.

This theory works best out west where roads are straight. But out west we have lots of back roads, and section roads. I would aim for one of those that doesn't have power poles next to it. No traffic there.

...in theory.
 
You need standard shoulders on both sides in addition to two lanes each way in order to land a 172 (or pretty much anything else aside from, say, a Pitts) in the presence of any road signs, overpasses, or other obstructions. A standard interstate lane is 12 feet. A 172 is 36.

That should be fine in the middle of nowhere, but it's gonna be a problem in a city, even in no traffic. That is, unless you have 3+ lanes in each direction.
 
Subsea said:
Come in with extra airspeed at 30ft AGL (and hope there isn't an overpass or overhead sign)...as you scrub off airspeed, they should slow down to watch the show.

While we are armchair emergency landing, I would not intentionally risk anyone's well-being by landing on an interstate with any appreciable traffic on it. It wasn't their fault that I hop in a plane and go flying around and decided to come down on top of them. In a real emergency, who knows what I would do. I might aim for the panda exhibit at the zoo....pandas are soft.
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I was thinking along these lines too (airspeed and 30' all / nor the pandas).

I also agree with what you're saying about landing with traffic. I don't want to risk someone's safety on the ground. I would only try this if their was minimal traffic.
 
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MAKG1 said:
You need standard shoulders on both sides in addition to two lanes each way in order to land a 172 (or pretty much anything else aside from, say, a Pitts) in the presence of any road signs, overpasses, or other obstructions. A standard interstate lane is 12 feet. A 172 is 36.

That should be fine in the middle of nowhere, but it's gonna be a problem in a city, even in no traffic. That is, unless you have 3+ lanes in each direction.
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Find somewhere else to land during rush hour . . . For my plane, I'll need three lanes and slightly left of center. Otherwise, the reflectors along the edge will probably not clear my wingtip and it will get ugly real fast. So should I add flares to my emergency kit? :D. No, I'm not putting flammable inside the plane!
 
I just attended a AOPA safety seminar where they were talking about this. The presenter was very adamant on landing in the median. Not sure I would always agree with that, but that was their position.
 
retpd2001 said:
I just attended a AOPA safety seminar where they were talking about this. The presenter was very adamant on landing in the median. Not sure I would always agree with that, but that was their position.
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There are medians which also double as drainage control and a standard tricycle gear might have problem with the ditch angles and wing clearance. Also some states put in barrier cables in the median, which would be much like landing on a rip saw.
 
Land in the back of a pickup. Let him worry about stopping.
 
I've landed sailplanes on roads including an interstate. Go for the road and land with traffic (obviously). You may very well want to roll off onto the median or shoulder. Unless you are downtown DC or something you'd be surprised at how little traffic is on most roads most of the time relative to a landing.... but if you are a bad luck pilot, oh well.

Wires are more dangerous than anything else, keep those mark 20s peeled. Poles and standards are more visible than wires. Land up hill if there is a choice - everything is shorter and lower energy and you won't miss your spot.

Strangely enough, the bigger challenge may be managing things after a successful landing. Take control but gently. The police will want your drivers license - don't laugh, just satisfy them. They won't know what to do so tell them what needs to be done then let it be their plan. It's not a crash unless you screwed it up. Get some help and get the plane where it is safe for you and others but don't let 'the help' or 'the crowd' takeover. Gently chase everyone away. More damage is often done after a successful landing than during it. Don't hurry and do something stupid like trying to take off before being told not to and before knowing why you ended up there in the first place.

I had a trailer and a crew.... good luck.
 
retpd2001 said:
I just attended a AOPA safety seminar where they were talking about this. The presenter was very adamant on landing in the median. Not sure I would always agree with that, but that was their position.
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A lot of the interstates around here have trees in the median. We had a cherokee land in the median of I-95 some years back when he clipped the trees that were in line with the runway at 1W2 (I as in the fire department, but I was also based at 1W2 at the time so I knew how it had happened). MDOT finally cut those down after that.
 
retpd2001 said:
I just attended a AOPA safety seminar where they were talking about this. The presenter was very adamant on landing in the median. Not sure I would always agree with that, but that was their position.
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What's he gonna do if the median is nothing but a Jersey Barrier?
 
Norman said:
What's he gonna do if the median is nothing but a Jersey Barrier?
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Gimli_glider.JPG
 
Anymouse said:
Actually, going for the back side of an empty flat bed tractor trailer might be fun.
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I know someone who lined up for a T&G on a decommed carrier in the James River Reserve Fleet. Fortunately he noticed the cables strung across the flight deck before he got anywhere close to something that could be considered a landing attempt.
 
mscard88 said:
South Korean Air Force fighters land on their version of the interstate. The signs are hinged so they can be lowered, ramp areas at each end of whatever the length is, and of course they block off vehicle traffic. I imagine that portion is built to be capable of landing planes. Mainly for emergency/war time use. When I was there in the mid 70s Korean AF F-4s would practice occasionally.
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when were you thee... I was at Osan AB from Feb 76 to Feb 77
 
MAKG1 said:
You need standard shoulders on both sides in addition to two lanes each way in order to land a 172 (or pretty much anything else aside from, say, a Pitts) in the presence of any road signs, overpasses, or other obstructions. A standard interstate lane is 12 feet. A 172 is 36.

That should be fine in the middle of nowhere, but it's gonna be a problem in a city, even in no traffic. That is, unless you have 3+ lanes in each direction.
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Interstates usually have a shoulder, at least 2 lanes in each direction, and either a median or a barrier wall.

Almost every interstate in a moderate to large city has more than 2 lanes in each direction. Some have way more than 2 (see below). Plus some have left and right shoulders on both sides.

Overhead signs and power lines would certainly be hazards but roadside signs are fully off the roadway - including off the shoulder since shoulders are drivable surfaces.

I took some quick Google Earth measurements of random interstates - at whatever point GE took me to and here are the measurements. All of these were rural settings except for LA.


  • I-70: Shoulder to center wall = 47'
  • I-40: Shoulder to center of median = 53'
  • I-20: Shoulder to center of median = 64'
  • I-10: Shoulder to center of median = 68'
  • I-10 in downtown LA shoulder to center wall = 95'

There's no magic to my using center of the median. As long as there's no signs your wing could pass over the entire median. Low wings may have trouble as some medians are crowned - others are ditches.

Barring traffic and overhead signs, I'd say you could easily fit a piston single, and in many cases a twin, on an interstate.
 
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I was flying with a friend's Dad in his Cherokee 180 about 35 years ago when we got caught in a snow squall. Put it down on I-94 near Medina, ND. Just carefully taxied up the first exit ramp (short wings helped) and waited out the storm. Highway Patrol arrived, stopped traffic so we could take off again. Helpful guys!
 
In open country with sparse traffic sure, it's a no-brainer but in most urban areas, here in California at least, the freeway is a solid line of cars and trucks doing 70 to 90 mph so it would be real sketchy. Especially in a situation where you have no power so no way to un-commit at a certain point.

If you face a choice between an open field where you are for certain going to do significant damage to the aircraft but will most certainly come out unhurt and a dicey landing in traffic where you might pull off no damage and no injury but also might kill someone on the ground - well, I think that's a no-brainer too.
 
Yeah landing in any big city would not work. There are always cars 24/7 in the city. There are also lots of overhead signs and power lines. Very hazardous.
 
Silvaire said:
In open country with sparse traffic sure, it's a no-brainer but in most urban areas, here in California at least, the freeway is a solid line of cars and trucks doing 70 to 90 mph so it would be real sketchy. Especially in a situation where you have no power so no way to un-commit at a certain point.
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I agree. Driving around the freeways here I see little opportunity for obstruction-free landing areas. However, two rental C-172 I used to fly landed on LA freeways after power failure (loose oil drain plug and fuel exhaustion). They walked away. Luck of the draw. :dunno:
 
LDJones said:
I was flying with a friend's Dad in his Cherokee 180 about 35 years ago when we got caught in a snow squall. Put it down on I-94 near Medina, ND. Just carefully taxied up the first exit ramp (short wings helped) and waited out the storm. Highway Patrol arrived, stopped traffic so we could take off again. Helpful guys!
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I know someone who has been off and on several county highways before in a C150. His biggest concern was power lines and mail boxes.
 
I'd probably come in steeply with a bit of speed to minimize wire hazard, then let it float and land when ready.

If there's a lot of traffic, the median might be a much better option. Probably trash the airplane, but less so than being hit by a semi, and you'd likely walk away.
 
Clark1961 said:
Land opposite direction to traffic. That way they'll see ya coming!

(snark, snark, snark)
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A debate about this option pops up here more often than you might think. :)
And no, most of the texting retards will not see you even when you're coming straight at them.

On topic: I too would be looking more at the median or grass along the hwy.
However, that drastically changes at night.
 
You can talk about it,doubt that you can practice the procedure.
 
petrolero said:
Yeah landing in any big city would not work. There are always cars 24/7 in the city. There are also lots of overhead signs and power lines. Very hazardous.
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Agreed, but how about this guy? Landed on Interstate 95. In New York City. And, for style points, on the George Washington Bridge. :hairraise:

Aeronca Champ, on December 26, 1965. One wing was kissed by a truck and the plane was spun on a vertical axis, and nosed in from there. But pilot and passenger survived!


Even Sully couldn't do this!!!

-Skip
 

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Two pages, and no one has yet mentioned the (false) urban legend that the Interstate system was *designed* to be used as military runways in times of national emergency. It usually includes references to "facts" such as a requirement for one mile of straight roadway for every 10 miles of travel.
 
Back when Eisenhower was president, he had the DOT create at least one mile of straight road for every 10 miles of travel. This was for national security reasons so that the military aircraft could use the highways in case of emergency.
 
Hey, lookkee what I found! (Smarty pants above this is for you.)

"The initial purpose of the Interstate was to allow for mass evacuation of cities during a nuclear attack. It was also designed so that one mile in five was straight, useable as an airstrip in times of war or other emergencies.".

Look here: http://www.transportation.army.mil/museum/transportation museum/interstate.htm

Scroll down to the picture of the sign for Alligator Alley. It's quite interesting reading if you're not in a hurry. Although I must admit, posters on POA know all there is to know about everything, certainly more than the official biographers and historians making notes at the time.
 
If there was a safe way to do it I'd love to land an Interstate on an interstate...
 
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