MADISON, Maine — A small plane made an emergency landing on Wesserunsett Lake on Thursday morning, according to officials.
The plane landed shortly after 9:30 a.m. and Somerset County sheriff’s deputies were called in about 45 minutes later, according to Sheriff Dale Lancaster.
The single-engine plane, piloted by Donald Stoppe, 54, of New Hampshire, was en route to Millinocket from New Hampshire for a whitewater rafting trip with Stoppe’s brother, Rick Stoppe, 58, of Massachusetts and a friend, Perry Bryant, 58, of New Hampshire, Lancaster said.
Donald Stoppe, who along with his passengers was not injured, told deputies he had experienced engine trouble and decided to land the plane in the lake when he determined he could not make it to the Norridgewock Airport, Lancaster said.
“Mr. Stoppe made a decision to shut down the engine so as not to cause more damage and glide to the lake without power,” Lancaster said.
The plane landed without incident and the FAA originally called in the landing before deputies were dispatched, Lancaster said. The plane was pulled to shore by a boat, and there were no visible signs of damage to the aircraft.
The FAA will not conduct an investigation due to the fact there were no injuries.
