Plane hits fence in landing at Fresno’s Chandler Airport

A small plane that had engine trouble Tuesday evening made an emergency landing at Fresno Chandler Executive Airport in southwest Fresno.

The pilot was unhurt but the plane, which was landing at too high a speed, overshot the field and hit a fence beyond the end of the runway about 8 p.m.

Pilot Mike Hutchinson said he was flying alone in his single prop plane when the “engine came apart at 8,500” feet.

He was able to make it to Fresno Chandler Executive Airport but “had too much speed” and crashed into the chain-link fencing along West Whites Bridge Avenue near South Teilman Avenue.

Hutchnson said it was scary, “and you keep thinking just fly the plane, just fly the plane.”

Hutchinson is from Bakersfield but is based in Fresno for his work. He did not elaborate. He said he was on his way to the Sacramento area when he diverted to Chandler.

Fresno police said the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate what happened.

This story was originally published June 2, 2015 at 10:07 PM with the headline "Plane hits fence in landing at Fresno’s Chandler Airport."