Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Busy Georgia Road, Strikes 3 Vehicles

Two people suffered minor injuries in the incident on Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A single-engine Hawker Beechcraft BE-36 plane made an emergency landing on a busy road in Gainesville, Georgia on Monday after experiencing engine issues. The plane struck three vehicles, dislodging a fuel tank into one of them, and two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Why it matters

Emergency landings of small planes on public roads are extremely rare and dangerous occurrences that can put many lives at risk. The fact that this landing resulted in only minor injuries is considered highly unusual and fortunate given the chaotic circumstances.

The details

According to authorities, the pilot, Thomas Rogers, told local media that they "lost our engine taking off out of Gainesville" and tried to glide back but realized they wouldn't make it, so they landed on Browns Bridge Road, one of the main arteries through northeast Georgia. The plane struck three cars, dislodging a fuel tank into one of them, but police said the fact that no one was seriously injured or killed is "just astonishing" given the busy nature of the road.

  • The emergency landing occurred on Monday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Thomas Rogers

The pilot of the Hawker Beechcraft BE-36 plane that made the emergency landing.

Gainesville Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the emergency landing incident.

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What they’re saying

“We lost our engine taking off out of Gainesville. We tried to glide back, did everything by the book, but realized we weren't going to make it back with how far out we were, so we came down on the road.”

— Thomas Rogers, Pilot (WAGA-TV)

“The fact that they were able to land in the middle of hundreds of vehicles and only hit three of them, no power lines is very remarkable. The fact that no one was seriously injured or killed is just astonishing.”

— Kevin Holbrook, Police Captain (ksgf.com)

What’s next

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the engine failure that led to the emergency landing.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the skill and quick thinking of the pilot in safely landing the plane on a busy road with minimal damage and injuries, underscoring the importance of proper emergency procedures and training for small plane pilots.