What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Narrative: pilot could not find airport at night on his way back from rut, Vermont to orange county (mgj). He contacted swf tower who put him in contact with approach control. He was on radar but realizing critical fuel elected to make a precautionary landing on a highway below. He had diverted to the south and west earlier to avoid some weather and had been circling for 1/2 hour trying to locate mgj.
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE: PILOT COULD NOT FIND AIRPORT AT NIGHT ON HIS WAY BACK FROM RUT, VERMONT TO ORANGE COUNTY (MGJ). HE CONTACTED SWF TOWER WHO PUT HIM IN CONTACT WITH APPROACH CONTROL. HE WAS ON RADAR BUT REALIZING CRITICAL FUEL ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A HIGHWAY BELOW. HE HAD DIVERTED TO THE SOUTH AND WEST EARLIER TO AVOID SOME WEATHER AND HAD BEEN CIRCLING FOR 1/2 HOUR TRYING TO LOCATE MGJ.
Other reports on N55205 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.