Capt. James R. Glombowski

Immediately relying on their years of experience and CAP training they established glide speed and completed the emergency check list and restart procedures. After realizing restarting the engine would be impossible due to the loss of fuel, Capt.Glombowski declared an emergency with Houston Center. Air Traffic Control tried to direct the stricken aircraft to Jennings Airport, but due to a head wind Capt. Glombowski determined that they did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airfield. With thick woods and swamp below Capt. Glombowski informed Houston that their safest landing would be on Interstate 10 which was only 2 miles off their 3 o’ clock.
During the emergency decent, Capt. Glombowski maintained contact with Houston Center as well as worked with Lt. Jeager to prepare the aircraft in accordance with pre-crash procedures. Working as a team the CAP pilots established a glide speed to the flow of traffic at about 70 mphs. Gliding over the median until drivers realized they were attempting to land on the highway they applied proper flap settings to allow them to merge into traffic and land behind two passing semi trucks. They coasted the Aircraft off the highway, shutdown the equipment and secured the cargo which they were to deliver to the U.S. Army for FEMA operations the next day. After police arrived and the aircraft was safety towed off the interstate and secured at a nearby truck stop. Capt. Glombowski enlisted the help of the Louisiana State Police to finish their mission and deliver the highly sensitive package of data to their Army contact in Baton Rouge.
Not only did this aircrew land with out injury to themselves or civilians, there was no damage done to the aircraft. This action under adverse and dangerous duty brings credit to himself, the Civil Air Patrol and the United States Air Force.