Hero pilot, 18, forced into emergency landing after plane's engine loses power
A heroic teenager was forced to make an emergency landing after his small plane's engine lost power.
Brock Peters, 18, decided to take his grandmother and two cousins out for breakfast on Monday morning in his small Piper PA-28 plane.
The teen, who had just gained his licence four months ago, was flying from Apple Valley Airport to Riverside Airport.
But it was when Peters was cruising over San Bernardino, California, US, he suddenly had to make an emergency landing on Route 66 in El Cajon Boulevard.
The teen, who was flying at an altitude of 5,500ft when the small plane lost power, was forced to make an emergency landing on the highway - with his grandmother in tears at the back of the cockpit.
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He was flying a Piper PA-28 at an altitude of around 5,500ft when he was forced to land (CBS)Despite the immense pressure on his young shoulders and with his family's fate in his hands, the teenager had to focus on the job in hand.
He told CBLA : 'I can hear my grandma crying in the back. I'm like "I've got to tune her out, focus on what I need to do and get this plane down safely and make sure everybody is OK."'
Fortunately, he was able to land the plane just before 10am on January 2 and everyone escaped uninjured.
Brock Peters made an emergency landing after his small plane's engine lost power (@brockpeters1/Instagram)
The teen had just gained his licence four months ago (@brockpeters1/Instagram)Peters added: "We're coming through the pass and I hear a boom and then I lose all my engine power."
He was unable to get the engine working again and immediately began looking for somewhere to land.
"'From the air, the field right in front of me looks flat,' he said. 'But once you get lower, it's trees, rocks, everything - just going to tear the plane up."
Faced with limited options he decided he would land the plane on the road.
However, he had to guide the plane under power lines in order to land safely.
Peters had to land with his family crying in the back of the cockpit (CBS)And with two traffic lanes, he was faced with cars coming in different directions.
Fortunately, Peters said one car in front of him saw him heading towards the road and pulled over so he could land safely.
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His gran, Martha Quiroga, was left in tears as the plane landed after being left overwhelmed with emotion.
Peters said his faith helped him guide his family to safety.
He said: "I knew I was going to land it,' he said. 'I knew I was going to. But to not hit anything, that's God's intervention right there."
An investigation into the plane's engine cutting out is underway (CBS)Peters flying instructor, David Andrews, was proud of his student and took to Instagram to praise him for his heroic efforts.
He wrote: "'My student is one hell of a pilot! He handled that emergency landing with poise and got everyone home safe.'
"PS next time you plans on landing on Route 66, don't forget to invite me."
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have confirmed they will investigate the incident.
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