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Sheriff Survives Close Call In Sky

Photo from David Gee modified by TBO.com staff

Sheriff David Gee was piloting an airplane when a bird damaged the plane’s wing.

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By CHRIS ECHEGARAY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 25, 2007

Updated: 12/24/2007 11:11 pm

PLANT CITY - The Cessna Aerobat was vibrating and difficult to maneuver - signs it might go out of control.

A buzzard had just hit Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee's two-seat plane on Monday afternoon, damaging the aircraft's left wing.

Gee, a helicopter and airplane pilot, avoided crashing and landed safely on runway 28 at Plant City Municipal Airport.

"I was fortunate," the sheriff said. "It was hard to control and it could've been a severe impact. Just fly the airplane is what we're taught and trained to do."

Gee, 48, said he has been training for his GPS certification for precision approaches. The training calls for several flights within nine days. Gee said he struck what he thinks was a turkey vulture at 4 p.m.

He was 600 feet in the air when the bird smashed into the left wing, just missing the windshield. Shortly after, Gee declared an emergency landing.

The Cessna, owned by Gee and the friend who was a passenger on Monday, sustained a lot of damage. Gee and his friend were not hurt. Gee wouldn't venture a guess the amount of money the repairs would cost.

Gee had taken off from runway 10 when the accident occurred. He already had been up in the air and landed when he went for another takeoff.

At low altitudes, aviators have to be careful of birds swooping into their line of flight, Gee said.

"Near misses are a common occurrence," Gee said. "We're prepared for that and see how the plane holds together. The airplane did really well."

Gee said it's not the end of his flying, and he'll be back up but not too soon. He'll heed his wife's advice not to fly during the holidays.

"I'll be back up, but not on Christmas Day," he said.

Gee was elected sheriff in 2004. The sheriff oversees an agency that patrols unincorporated areas and schools and administers two jails and court bailiffs. Gee has 30 years with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Reporter Deborah Meron contributed to this report. Reporter Chris Echegaray can be reached at cechegaray@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7920.

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