Pilot Completes Emergency Take-Off on HWY 153 in Marathon County

For Marathon County (OnFocus) – On Wednesday, August 12, 2020, at approximately 6:28 a.m., The Marathon County 911 Communications Center received a report of a downed aircraft in a field approximately five miles west of the Central Wisconsin Airport.

The caller advised there was a single occupant (pilot) and no injuries. Deputies from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area in an attempt to locate the aircraft. The Sheriff’s Office was provided support from the Central Wisconsin Airport in the search.

At approximately 7:21 a.m., phone contact was made with the pilot and he was able to relay his current location near the intersection of Skyview Road and State Highway 153 in the Township of Emmet.

Deputies located the small, single engine aircraft and the pilot. The pilot was not injured and there appeared to be no damage to the aircraft.

Upon investigation, the pilot was leaving Central Wisconsin Airport and flying to Eau Claire. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot lost engine power and was able to make a successful emergency landing in a field.

The pilot was able to determine the problem and fix the aircraft. The pilot worked with the farmer, who combined a make shift runway in the field for the pilot to take off. After several attempts, the pilot was unable to get up to speed to take off from the field.

At approximately 4:37 p.m., deputies were able to briefly shut down a section of State Highway 153. The pilot was able to use the highway as a runway to take off, and continue on his way to Eau Claire.

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