A plane crashed onto a well-known golf course in Northern California on Sunday afternoon. The Sacramento Fire Department responded to the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex around 1 p.m. after reports of an aircraft emergency.
When firefighters arrived, they found a plane that had landed on the golf course. The pilot, who had taken off from McClellan Airbase, experienced engine trouble about 400 feet in the air.
“The pilot chose the golf course because it was a clear, open area,” said Sacramento Fire Captain Justin Sylvia. “Fortunately, no one was hurt. The pilot only had a small cut on his hand.”
The plane was leaking some fuel, which is being closely monitored.
Tim Cowan, who was golfing at the time, heard a loud noise but wasn’t sure what it was. “This is a first for me,” he said. “I guess it’s off my bucket list now.”
The plane skimmed the side of a golf course building but didn’t hit it directly.
Charlie Lewis, a golf course worker, was picking up golf balls when he saw the crash. “I’m glad nothing was seriously damaged,” he said. “The clubhouse could have been destroyed.”
The Sacramento Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.