The pilot of a single-engine plane experienced an engine failure shortly after taking off from Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport and made an emergency landing on Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville, Ga., on Feb. 9. Pilot Thomas Rogers and a student pilot were aboard; both sustained only minor injuries. An air-traffic recording captured Rogers telling loved ones, "We're not going to make it," before the landing. The aircraft struck three vehicles, and authorities briefly closed the road while investigators and responders cleared the scene.
Pilot Makes Harrowing Emergency Landing on Busy Gainesville Road After Engine Failure — Says ‘We're Not Going to Make It’
Gainesville plane crashGainesville Police Department/Instagram
A single-engine plane made an emergency landing on Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville, Georgia, on Feb. 9 after losing engine power shortly after takeoff from Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport. The aircraft came down near a busy intersection and struck several vehicles as motorists scrambled to avoid the plane.
What Happened
According to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) and local news outlets, pilot Thomas Rogers and a student pilot were aboard when the engine failed soon after departure. Rogers attempted to turn back toward the airport but realized they did not have enough altitude or power to return, choosing instead to glide the aircraft down the road.
Gainesville plane crash on Feb. 9, 2026Gainesville Police Department/Instagram
"We're not going to make it," Rogers can be heard saying in an air-traffic recording obtained by 11Alive. "Please tell my wife Molly I love her... and my parents. I love them so much."
Impact and Aftermath
Witness video shows the small plane descending rapidly onto the main road, then spinning into traffic and striking three vehicles. Gainesville Police Capt. Kevin Holbrook described the relatively limited damage as "absolutely remarkable." Both the pilot and the student pilot sustained only minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Responders temporarily closed the road while the aircraft was removed from the intersection; the GPD later said roads in the area were reopened the same day. The Gainesville Police Department posted images and details of the landing to its Instagram account, and national and local media reported on the incident.
Gainesville plane crash on Feb. 9, 2026Gainesville Police Department/Instagram
Investigation: Authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), were contacted for comment and to investigate the cause of the engine failure and the circumstances leading to the emergency landing.
Local witnesses described the scene as frightening but noted relief that the outcome was not more severe. Emergency crews and police praised the quick response that kept the situation from becoming worse.
Help us improve.
