Pilot makes emergency landing on U.S. 14

Motorists entering Greybull from the east early Monday morning were surprised by the sight of an airplane parked in an approach off U.S. Highway 14 after an apparent emergency landing.

Questions swirled as the plane appeared to have been abandoned; no pilot or members of law enforcement were present as cars whizzed by in both directions.

A search of the FAA’s aircraft registry using the plane’s N-number solved part of the mystery. The fixed wing, single engine Maule M-7-260C is registered to Three Aught Seven Trucking, LLC, of Hyattville.

Royce Mercer is the owner/operator of that company, but it was his father Martin who was flying the plane Monday morning when its engine started sputtering on its approach to Greybull.

“I got run over by a cow and my wife had gotten me an appointment with (Dr. Brett) Ohman (a chiropractor) for my birthday, so that’s what I was doing,” Martin said. “The engine never did quit all the way, but it was sputtering pretty good.  Good way to start a Monday, huh?” 

The emergency landing occurred at approximately 7:40 a.m. 

“There was some traffic (from the west), with one lady coming over the hill, but when I met her, I was able to get over quite a ways so she could pass,” Martin said. “The worst part, there’s a power line right there going across the road. That could have been a little dicey.”

Martin had caught a lift back to the plane from the county’s airport manager, Paul Thur, and was filling its gas tank as a Wyoming highway patrolman stood by, waiting to assist with traffic control.

With a full tank and satisfied that the engine was in working order, Martin taxied the plane to the east, spun a 180, revved its engine, gained speed and took off toward the airport, eventually making it there safely.