Single-Engine Plane Makes Emergency Landing on SR 95 Near Milepost 25

A private plane that the pilot reported had engine trouble made an emergency landing on southbound State Route 95 near Milepost 25 in Yuma Friday afternoon, authorities said. KYMA News 11 reported the aircraft "was heading southbound and landed near Milepost 25" and published its account at 3:50 PM with bylines to Paul Vozzella and Manoah Tuiasosopo.

According to the Department of Public Safety, the pilot "said he was experiencing engine failure, forcing him to put the plane down on the highway." KYMA’s initial reporting described the incident as a crash landing in its text while using emergency-landing language in headlines; the Department of Public Safety provided the account of engine trouble that led to the highway touchdown.

KYMA reported that "the pilot was the only person on board and was uninjured." The station also noted that "no vehicles were struck during the landing," indicating that, despite touching down on a southbound travel lane, the aircraft did not collide with other motorists. KYMA did not provide a pilot name, aircraft registration, or model in its story.

A social media post circulated alongside the KYMA article described the airplane more specifically as a "single-engine private aircraft" and placed the landing on "southbound SR 195 near Yuma." That post was truncated in the copy reviewed; KYMA’s reporting identifies State Route 95 near Milepost 25 as the location and is the primary source for the milepost and direction cited in this report. The discrepancy between SR 95 and SR 195 has not been reconciled in public statements.

KYMA’s coverage credited Paul Vozzella and listed Manoah Tuiasosopo, who the station notes "joined the KYMA team as a videographer in February 2024" and can be reached at manoah.tuiasosopo@kecytv.com for tips. The Department of Public Safety was the agency attributed with the pilot’s account, but neither KYMA nor DPS released the pilot’s name, the aircraft’s tail number, or whether the Federal Aviation Administration or National Transportation Safety Board had been notified.

Officials did not report any road closures, emergency-response details, or weather information in the initial account. Missing from public reports are the exact time of the landing, aircraft make or registration, whether ADOT or Yuma County crews inspected the roadway, and whether FAA or NTSB investigators have opened a formal inquiry. KYMA’s article and the social posts are the only public accounts available at the time of publication; authorities have not issued further details about safety checks or an investigation.