Cause of landing of a tourist plane on Eastham beach is being investigated

EASTAHM – A Cessna 172 with a pilot and two passengers on board landed safely at Nauset Light Beach Sunday afternoon after the plane developed a mechanical problem, according to Wellfleet police.

Nobody was injured.

The plane took off from Chatham Municipal Airport at 3:45 p.m. About 15 minutes later, the plane had to make an emergency landing, police said.

The plane belongs to Stick’N Rudder Aero Tours and operates out of Chatham Airport. The plane did not appear to be damaged, police said. The two passengers were on a tour at the time of the emergency landing.

Police and the National Park Service initially thought the plane had landed at Marconi Beach in South Wellfleet, but determined it had been farther south, closer to Nauset Light Beach in Eastham.

On Sunday, the National Park Service was busy getting the plane above the high tide line and organizing the recovery of the plane from the beach.