WATCH: Unbelievable plane crash on golf course, narrowly misses golfer

In a heart-stopping incident captured on CCTV, a small plane crash-landed onto a Sacramento golf course, narrowly missing a golfer by mere seconds. The footage shows the plane skidding across the green, just inches from a player who had been practicing his putt.

If the bystander had been walking a few seconds slower, the outcome could have been tragic. The incident occurred at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex after the aircraft suffered a mechanical failure at around 400 feet. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured, and the pilot escaped with just a minor cut on his hand.

The pilot, faced with a dire situation, expertly navigated the plane to avoid homes and other buildings, choosing the golf course as the safest landing spot. Despite the plane’s dramatic descent and collision, it remarkably spared the golfer and his equipment.

One could say that while the plane didn’t spare the grass, it certainly “respected” the bag and clubs. The golfer, shaken but unharmed, likely experienced the scare of his life as the plane barreled toward him.

🚨✈️⛳️ #WATCH: A Piper PA28 airplane was forced to make a crash landing yesterday afternoon on the practice green at Haggins Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, CA after its engine failed, narrowly missing a golfer. Pilot w/ minor injuries. (Via @aviationbrk) pic.twitter.com/9xAWu9AYCE

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 5, 2024

An unbelievable plane crash

This incident brings to mind a tragic event last month in northeastern Ohio, where a plane attempting an emergency landing at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport crashed, killing all three people on board. Unlike the Sacramento crash, the Ohio incident ended in a devastating loss of life.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating both crashes to determine the causes and prevent future occurrences.

Witnesses at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex were left stunned by the surreal scene. Tim Cowan, a golfer on the course, initially thought the loud crash was a car accident.

“Our group heard the loud crash, but we had no idea it was a plane,” he told local news.

Another regular, Fred Robertson, mentioned he usually practices on the green where the plane landed but decided to hold off that day. His decision may have saved his life.

The Sacramento Fire Department commended the pilot’s quick thinking and calm under pressure. Captain Justin Sylvia of the fire department advised the pilot to buy a lottery ticket, calling the landing “one amazing landing.”

As the FAA and NTSB continue their investigation, the golf community at Haggin Oaks is left reflecting on the near-miss and counting their blessings. This extraordinary event serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of staying alert, even in the most routine situations.