Pilot Lands Vintage Plane on Phoenix Street After Engine Failure

Retired commercial airline pilot Mike Tragarz safely lands his World War II-era seaplane on a city street, avoiding power lines and buildings.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:05pm

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On a routine sightseeing flight around Phoenix, retired commercial airline pilot Mike Tragarz experienced engine trouble in his vintage World War II-era seaplane, forcing him to make an emergency landing on a city street. Tragarz skillfully navigated the plane between power lines and street signs, landing it safely without hitting any vehicles or buildings on the ground.

Why it matters

The successful emergency landing highlights Tragarz's extensive piloting experience and quick thinking, as well as the risks associated with operating vintage aircraft in urban areas. It also raises questions about the maintenance and safety of older planes, and whether more should be done to regulate their use over populated neighborhoods.

The details

About 10 minutes into the flight, Tragarz noticed the plane was losing power and experiencing engine trouble, with smoke filling the cockpit. With the engine failing, Tragarz decided to divert to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, but the plane lost total power before he could reach the airport. Tragarz then spotted an empty Seventh Street and made the decision to land there, carefully navigating between power lines and a street sign to bring the plane down safely.

  • The incident occurred on April 12, 2026.
  • Tragarz said the entire emergency landing sequence took about 2 minutes and 10 seconds from the time the engine trouble started.

The players

Mike Tragarz

A retired commercial airline pilot with 44 years of experience, who was flying his vintage World War II-era seaplane when he was forced to make an emergency landing on a Phoenix street.

Hanan Haskell

A 70-year-old businessman from Israel who was a passenger on Tragarz's sightseeing flight.

Dragisa Raicevic

A 50-year-old seaplane enthusiast from Montenegro who was also a passenger on the flight and was visiting Arizona on his honeymoon.

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What they’re saying

“The airplane glides down. It wasn't like falling like a rock or anything. We were flying and we were gliding, the speed, the airspeed was right. We had control of the airplane. We never lost control of airplane or anything.”

— Mike Tragarz, Pilot

“Oh, from the very moment that we hit the ground to this very moment, I feel that I can't even explain how fortunate I believe I am and how lucky. The aviation gods were looking over our shoulder.”

— Mike Tragarz, Pilot

What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the engine failure in Tragarz's vintage seaplane.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the risks and challenges of operating older aircraft in urban areas, as well as the importance of experienced pilots maintaining situational awareness and following proper emergency procedures. It also serves as a reminder of the value of community support and first responder coordination during aviation emergencies.