He did not require hospitalization. Cobb headed for the river when the engine failed, choosing water instead of the trees on the east side of the river, and power lines on the west side, as a crash-landing spot. After the crash, the plane body was cracked severely, but the wings, engine, and much of the tail structure appeared intact Tuesday. The plane initially plunged into the river about 100 feet from shore. By Tuesday, salvage efforts had brought the plane to the Gardiner shore, where a barrel was placed under the tail section and two small dories were being set up to float the plane and return it the rest of the way to dry land.
Steep bankings line the river in the area where the plane went down.
Power lines run between the river and Route 24 in Gardiner in the area where the plane dropped. Cobb flies the plane from an acquaintance's field off Capen Road. Passers-by stopped to look at the waterlogged plane Tuesday from Route 24, some offering to help retrieve the plane from the river.