JOHNSTOWN - A well-known area businessman is lucky to be alive today after his twin-engine plane crash-landed at Johns-town's airport after striking trees near Bedford County Airport.
The Cessna aircraft operated by Mark Thomas of Thomas Dealerships and a copilot clipped the trees shortly after takeoff from Bedford, heavily damaging the small aircraft, Johnstown airport Manager Scott Voelker said.
"It is amazing they made it through," Voelker said. "The nose of the aircraft was damaged, both wings were damaged and the tail."
Limited emergency response at Bedford County Airport makes John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport the emergency landing site for planes in trouble above much of the region, Voelker said.
Thomas nursed his crippled plane to Johnstown, leaking fuel, only to find the front wheel would not extend, Voelker said.
"The pilot did a phenomenal job in getting the plane t...
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