Plane “Docks” at Gulfport Marina

Boaters at the Gulfport Municipal Marina Saturday afternoon saw a different sort of vessel land at the boat ramp: a Cessna 152 plane.

The plane, owned and piloted by Tom Beaman, a Clearwater D.O., was a 1966 Cessna 150, tail number N8672G. Dr. Beaman lives in the Feather Sound area; he landed the plane in Boca Ciega Bay last Friday, when the Cessna’s engine quit.

He escaped with minor cuts, but the plane went underwater in minutes. Saturday afternoon a small crowd watched a boat lead the plane, floated with air bladders, back to the boat ramp at the Gulfport Municipal Marina.

The Gabber has no word on whether the plane paid the five dollar ramp fee.