APOPKA, Fla. – A pilot looking to avoid several birds slowed his plane to the point that he could not take off before running off the end of the runway.
Apopka police said Umit Ozturk and his passenger Ahmet Cakmak left Orlando Executive Airport and proceeded to the Apopka Airport to practice, touch-and-go landings.
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As they were touching down at the airport in Apopka, Ozturk noticed several birds in flight about to cross his path, police said.
Ozturk reduced power to his plane to give the birds time to cross in front of him but realized that he did not have enough power to take off again before running off the end of the runway. Ozturk applied the brakes but could not stop in time before running off the end of the runway, authorities said.
Police said the plane collided with a large hill and the nose gear collapsed, flipping the plane. Both Ozturk and Cakmak were uninjured in the accident.
The FAA will complete an investigation.