Multiple agencies respond to distress call from plane at private landing strip north of Newberry

Staff report

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – At least five agencies responded this morning to a distress call from an airplane that eventually landed safely at the Oak Tree Landing airstrip between Newberry and High Springs.

According to a release from High Springs Fire Department, at 10:28 a.m., crews were dispatched to Oak Tree Landing Airport, an unmanned, paved landing strip on the Gilchrist/Alachua County line, to stand by for a reported aircraft requiring an emergency landing.

Once on scene, firefighters found a small, single-engine airplane, with three subjects on board, at the end of the runway. The aircraft was forced to land after experiencing unknown mechanical issues.

The pilot was able to safely navigate the plane to Oak Tree Landing without incident. No injuries or other fire hazards were reported.

Assisting on the call were several fire and law enforcement resources from Alachua County Fire Rescue, City of Newberry Fire Department, Alachua County Sheriff, and Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office.