Plane makes emergency landing on beach near Gordons Pond

Delaware Natural Resources Police State Parks Enforcement and Delaware State Police are investigating an emergency landing on a Cape Henlopen beach made by a small plane the evening of July 2 after it experienced engine trouble. Both the pilot and a passenger were safe in the forced landing, and there was no danger to surf fishermen on the beach as the pilot brought the plane down in deeper sand well away from them. The plane was undamaged.

The Cessna 152 two-seater piloted by Robert Danzi of Selbyville had taken off from Ocean City, Md. on a short flight up the coast to Georgetown. The plane began having engine trouble as he turned inland near the Point of Cape Henlopen, and Danzi reversed course and began looking for a place to put down. Flying over surf-fishing vehicles on the beach, he spotted an open space south of Herring Point, and landed the plane there.

The emergency landing spot was a section of Herring Point beach currently closed off to beachgoers for the protection of threatened piping plovers. Chief Wayne Kline of Parks Enforcement said no charges will be filed against Danzi. The Federal Aviation Administration gave him permission to remove the plane from the protected area, and Delaware State Park staff assisted in getting it off the beach early this morning.