THIS is the terrifying moment a plane narrowly missed a shocked golfer after crashing onto a course.
The stunned player was lining up a putt on the green when the plane dramatically slammed into a pro shop just inches away on Sunday.
The plane suddenly strikes the walls of the pro shop right opposite Owens[/caption] The aftermath of an emergency crash landing at a California golf complex[/caption] Onlookers are taken by surprise as they walk along the golf complex’s car park[/caption]Footage shows golfer Justin Owens chipping on the practice green in Sacramento, California, as the aircraft heads towards him and slides along the grass.
He quickly jerks to the side, avoiding injury by a few inches and the plane suddenly halts, hitting the wall of the pro shop opposite him.
Plumes of smoke are seen billowing from the small blue and white plane, as the traumatised golfer watches on in horror.
The plane’s wing is seen flapping in the air but the jet appears relatively intact following the crash landing.
Footage of the aftermath shows rescuers inspecting the plane’s damage, and paint scuffs on the walls of the pro shop.
A clip taken from another angle shows people casually strolling in a busy car park as the crash takes place right in front of them.
Rescuers from the local fire team are then seen rushing to the scene shortly after 1pm.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the only person on board was the pilot.
They explained that the pilot was forced into a crash landing after their Piper PA28’s engine failed mid-air at around 400 feet.
He then decided to land near the putting green, unable to return to Sacramento McClellan Airport where he took off.
Justin Sylvia, a spokesperson for the Sacramento Fire Department said the pilot walked away from the crash almost unharmed.
Sylvia explained: “He laid it down on part of a fairway. It skipped across the putting green and made very minor contact with the building.”
He added: “There were some paint marks on the building and the pilot only had a scratch to his hand.”
Golfer Owens, who was lining up a putt as usual when the plane struck the complex, said: “It really happened so fast that I didn’t have much time to react.
“It wasn’t in line to hit me so I didn’t move or anything like that, it was just happening in slow motion.”
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.
Rescuers from the Sacramento Fire Department rushing to the scene on Sunday[/caption]