LEBANON -- A small seaplane flipped over while trying make an emergency landing yesterday afternoon on Interstate 89 just after taking off from Lebanon Municipal Airport. The pilot, William Peabody, was injured.
''He was taking off, lost power and crashed on the interstate,'' a police dispatcher said.
A dispatcher told The Dartmouth the plane went down between exits 19 and 20 of I-89, little more than 10 minutes from the College
Peabody, 60, of New London, was alone on the plane. He was conscious when rescuers arrived and a dispatcher said he appeared to be in stable condition when he was taken to the hospital. Peabody was later released.
The highway runs parallel to the runway, which sits above it on a tall embankment.
As the plane rolled down the southbound lane, it went off the right side of the highway, flipped over and landed back on the road, authorities said.
The single-engine Cessna 180 did not hit any cars.
''It was very frightening. I don't think I've experienced many things in my life that take the wind out of you quite as much as that does,'' Peabody told the Associated Press.
Officials said the pilot was headed to Lake Sunapee.
Peabody said the engine may not have gotten enough fuel, causing it to lose power.
