Plane sputters, makes forced landing in field near Jefferson County Fair

PORT TOWNSEND — An airplane towing a campaign sign above thousands of people attending the Jefferson County Fair on Saturday had to make an emergency landing in a nearby field after the plane’s engine quit.

The pilot, John Carson, 50, of Renton, was not injured. Neither was anyone else.

The plane didn’t appear to have any damage.

Carson had been commissioned by Ian McFall of Brinnon, a Republican running for District 3 county commissioner, to circle the fairgrounds in his Piper Super Cub airplane towing behind it a sign reading, “McFall for Commissioner.”

McFall is running against Bob Pontius in the Republican primary election next month.

The winner will face John Austin, a Democrat, in the November general election.

Engine sputters, dies

Carson was flying hundreds of feet in the air above the 69th annual fair at about noon when he realized he was in trouble.

The engine sputtered and then died.

“The power just cut out,” Carson said.

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