 On Feb. 8, 1978, pilot Herman Crabtrey took off from Phoenix Field in Fair Oaks in his 1960 Comanche airplane heading east. After about 30 minutes, terror struck the pilot when his engine sputtered and died. Frantically, he searched below for a place to land and was able to glide his plane over Interstate 80. He was able to touchdown just ahead of a semi-truck near the Applegate exit.
Within minutes, a California Highway Patrol Officer arrived and was able to tow Crabtrey’s plane off the highway. According to the Feb. 10, 1978, Auburn Journal, “The engine was pulled Thursday [Feb. 9] and will be sent to the FAA [Federal Aviation Agency] Lab in Sacramento to determine what happened. Crabtrey then plans to have it repaired by a Lincoln mechanic.”
After the engine failure cause was identified, Crabtrey paid the Lincoln mechanic $2,000 to repair and re-install it in his plane, which remained near the Applegate exit. Crabtrey obtained a one-time permission letter from Caltrans, CHP and Placer County to make the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 his runway and on March 10, 1978, Herman successfully took off amid applause from onlookers. He landed safely at Phoenix Field in Fair Oaks about 10 minutes after takeoff.
Photo: Detail of the Feb. 10, 1978, Auburn Journal.
 Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply
Current recruitments include:
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: Friday Flicks: Elemental
Lincoln: Fall in Love with the Placer Wine Trail
Auburn: Sacred Earth and Healing Arts of Tibet at General Gomez Arts, Nature Quest: Forest Bathing at Canyon View Preserve, Placer Grown Farmer's Market
North Lake Tahoe: Aprés in the Village at Northstar California
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail
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