Faith Tenkley, Florida pilot makes emergency landing in the Atlantic Ocean just off Boca Raton moments after taking off from Fort Myers heading to Bimini, Bahamas only to experience mechanical failure including right engine of twin propeller quiting along with landing gear as she had to make split second decision.
A 23-year-old Florida woman with only 4-years flying experience is being hailed a hero after she managed to avert disaster and make an emergency landing after her landing gear and the right engine of her twin engine craft quitting moments after taking off.
Faith Tenkley who had just moments earlier had taken off from From Myers airport, dodged buildings and paddleboarders before touching down in front of stunned beachgoers in the Atlantic Ocean, Saturday morning.
She had been flying her family’s plane from Fort Myers to the Bahamas to pick up her parents when what should have been a routine trip suddenly became a terrifying fight to get safely back on the ground.
Hero female pilot, 23, makes split second decision
About 15 miles west of Boca Raton, Tenkley said she began experiencing mechanical problems with the aircraft, a Piper PA-30-series aircraft.
Tensely initially planned to divert to Boca Raton Airport for an emergency landing but then another potentially dangerous problem emerged: Tenkley said her landing gear broke.
With a large amount of fuel still aboard the aircraft, the 23-year old who started taking flying lessons after graduating from high school, feared that attempting to put the plane down on a runway without functioning landing gear could result in a hard landing – and potentially spark a fire.
By then, the twin-engine propeller aircraft’s right engine had also failed leaving Tenkley rapidly running out of options.
Rather than risk attempting a landing at the airport, the young pilot made the dramatic decision to head for the Atlantic.
Female pilot averts disaster as she safely lands twin engine propeller plane
Tenkley said she maneuvered around buildings as she approached the coastline before encountering paddleboarders in the water below.
She ultimately managed to find a clear stretch of ocean alongside the beach and guided the stricken aircraft toward the water.
Against the odds, the landing was smooth and the plane remained intact as Tenkley managed to get out of the plane unaided and without injuries.
A lifeguard reached her within about a minute, she said, with a fire rescue boat arriving close behind.
The extraordinary sequence unfolded in front of shocked beachgoers in affluent Boca Raton, where families had been enjoying their Saturday morning when they suddenly found themselves watching the small plane descend toward the sea.
The twin-engine Piper went into the sea around two miles east of Boca Raton Airport at around 9:40am triggering an emergency response from police, lifeguards and the US Coast Guard.
The aircraft had departed Page Field in Fort Myers and was supposed to be flying across to South Bimini Airport in the Bahamas when chaos suddenly unfolded.
Cause of plane mechanical failures to be investigated
Tenkley speaking to Gulf Coast News said she’d taken off in the family’s aircraft intending to collect her parents in Bimini, the Bahamas – about 70 miles due west across open water.
Clara Bennett, executive director of the Boca Raton Airport Authority told WPBF the twin engine propeller plane been cleared to land at Boca Raton Airport after an emergency was declared, only for the young pilot to decide otherwise amid escalating concerns.
After safely landing the plane, and managing to avoid seafarers or anyone in the water, Tenkley managed to get out of the plane unassisted before a lifeguard at shore came to her side within moments.
In the aftermath of the safe landing, and Tenkely managing to keep her cool and avert catastrophe, crowds gathered at South Beach Park to witness the twin engine plane as it bobbed in the water close to shore.
Authorities have yet to say what led to the plane malfunctioning the way it did and whether the twin engine craft had been receiving ongoing care and cleared necessary flying grades.
The FAA will be investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Piper PA-30-series aircraft were produced between 1961 and 1972 and were configured to carry either four or six people.
The aircraft that came down Saturday was identified as a PA-39 registered to USOARFlorida LLC of Fort Myers, according to FAA records cited by WPBF.
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