A 17-year-old pilot made an emergency road landing on Babcock Street SE in Palm Bay, Fla., on Nov. 17 after the Cessna 172N (tail N6124D) ran out of fuel. Brevard County Fire Rescue arrived and cleared the scene in about 15 minutes; the solo pilot was uninjured and there was no reported property damage. Officials said the plane did not strike any homes or vehicles, only blocking the roadway. A flight instructor noted the successful outcome reflects solid training.
17-Year-Old Pilot Walks Away After Running Out of Fuel, Makes Emergency Road Landing in Florida
A 17-year-old pilot made an emergency road landing on Babcock Street SE in Palm Bay, Fla., on Nov. 17 after the Cessna 172N (tail N6124D) ran out of fuel. Brevard County Fire Rescue arrived and cleared the scene in about 15 minutes; the solo pilot was uninjured and there was no reported property damage. Officials said the plane did not strike any homes or vehicles, only blocking the roadway. A flight instructor noted the successful outcome reflects solid training.
12:20 PM, 11/20/2025Society
What happened: On the evening of Nov. 17, a 17-year-old pilot made an emergency landing on Babcock Street SE in Palm Bay, Florida, after the single-engine aircraft ran out of fuel. The aircraft, a Cessna 172N Skyhawk bearing tail number N6124D, had departed Okeechobee County Airport and was en route to Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
Response and outcome: Brevard County Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene. The solo pilot was uninjured, no other people were on board, and responders cleared the scene in roughly 15 minutes. According to authorities, the airplane did not strike any homes or vehicles; the primary consequence was that the roadway was temporarily blocked.
"The plane didn't impact anybody, or the pilot, you know, no houses, cars or anything," Assistant Palm Bay Fire Rescue Chief John Ringer said, noting the main issue was the blocked road.
Training and context: Andrew Whittall, a flight instructor and captain at the Florida Tech College of Aeronautics, observed that a solo night cross-country flight indicates an advanced stage of pilot training. "It shows that the training was successful," he said, adding that being able to land safely and walk away demonstrates strong piloting fundamentals.
Next steps: Local responders secured the aircraft and the scene. Federal aviation authorities were contacted for further information about the incident. No injuries or property damage were reported.
Details confirmed: date (Nov. 17), location (Babcock Street SE, Palm Bay, FL), aircraft (Cessna 172N, N6124D), and that the pilot was a 17-year-old solo occupant who was uninjured.