Livermore, USA - August 02, 2024

A harrowing incident unfolded Friday morning as an Arizona man miraculously walked away unscathed from a plane crash in San Joaquin County, about 40 minutes southeast of Livermore.

The pilot, the sole occupant of the single-engine Cessna 150, departed Concord early in the morning for what was expected to be a routine flight. However, just over an hour into the journey, disaster struck.

Authorities received a distress call indicating that the aircraft had experienced a complete engine failure. The pilot skillfully executed a forced landing near Mines Road and Tarraville Creek Road, where the plane ultimately came to rest upside down.

Dramatic footage from SKY7 captured the pilot emerging from the wreckage, aided by Alameda County firefighters who quickly responded to the scene. Remarkably, despite the overturned plane and the impact, the pilot managed to exit on his own and walk away, albeit with some reported back pain.

In a phone interview with ABC7's Lena Howland, the pilot, who also works as a certified flight instructor, expressed relief at surviving the ordeal. He recounted purchasing the aircraft last year and detailed his aviation experiences, including his departure from the San Francisco Police Department in 2022 to pursue flight instruction.

Eyewitness Richard Hodge, recalling his own crash experience decades ago, expressed amazement at the pilot's fortunate escape. "It's amazing this guy walked away," Hodge remarked, reflecting on the rare outcome of such incidents.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash to determine the precise cause of the engine failure. For now, the community remains grateful that this incident ended with no serious injuries.

"We're just thankful he's okay," said a local resident, echoing sentiments shared widely in the aftermath of the crash.