A small plane made an emergency landing in the State Forest on Sunday. —Courtesy MV Airport

Updated July 24

A small plane flying from Katama Airpark to the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Sunday morning made an emergency landing in the State Forest after experiencing engine problems, officials say.

Airport director Geoff Freeman told The Times that the plane landed in a clearing in Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, roughly 1.5 miles from the airport.

According to a statement released by the West Tisbury Police Department, the pilot had contacted Air Traffic Control and declared an emergency approximately two miles east of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.

The release states that the pilot had “lost altitude and landed in a field” after attempting to make the airport’s runway. 

Upon arrival, responding officers and airport fire-rescue personnel located a single-engine Mooney M-20, with just one person on board. 

The pilot, who had been assessed at the scene by Edgartown first responders, did not suffer serious injury or require transportation to the hospital. 

The plane is registered to Oak Bluffs resident Evan Shai, although it has not been confirmed that he was in the plane at the time of the incident. 

Flight records show that the plane departed Katama at 10:36 am Sunday, and had been airborne for less than 20 minutes before the emergency landing. Roughly two hours earlier, the plane departed Martha’s Vineyard Airport, and successfully arrived at Katama Airpark. That flight was four minutes, according to flight records.

The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into the incident. 

This version of the story updates the make of the plane involved.

8 replies on “Pilot makes emergency landing in State Forest”

  1. The aircraft in this story is being reported here and elsewhere as a “Arnold Volksplane VP-1”. WHY ? … because all the reporters failed to properly verify the data for the registration number, which is N74565. The aircraft is actually a 1961 MOONEY M20B.
    The reporters searched an incomplete registration number, N7456, which is in fact registered as an Arnold Volksplane VP-1 (an amateur built aircraft) with the owner in Montana.
    Lastly, even an average aviation neophyte would instantly recognize the aircraft in the photo as one built by Mooney Aircraft.

    2. What difference does it make as to who made the airplane?
      It is in the class of of airplane that is very dangerous.
      High performance single.
      They have a horrible safety record.
      They must be outlawed.
      Like mopeds.

      1. No, these little planes are built so lightly.
        In 60 mph a head on crash between a Mooney a a Ford Explorer the Moonies will be dead meat, some of the Explorers may be able to walk away.
        My preferred method of travel is by smalls plane, I recognize the risk.
        I have also enjoyed mopeds.
        Should they be banned?

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