Overview:
A Wyoming state trooper briefly became the guardian of a stranded aircraft Monday morning after a private pilot made an emergency landing on U.S. Highway 14 outside Greybull. The pilot, identified as Mr. Mercer, was en route to a doctor’s appointment when his engine began sputtering mid-flight. With quick thinking and steady hands, he brought the single-engine Maule M-7-260C (tail number N4045R) safely down on the roadway. As the pilot traveled into town to refuel, troopers protected the plane from traffic and potential theft until he returned to resume his flight.
Location: Big Horn County, Wyoming
GREYBULL, WY — December 8, 2025 — Wyoming drivers on U.S. Highway 14 witnessed a sight rarely seen outside a movie set. A private airplane was parked neatly off the shoulder while a state trooper stood guard.
The unusual scene unfolded around 7:40 a.m. Monday when pilot Mr. Mercer—flying from Hyattville to Greybull for a chiropractor appointment—began experiencing engine sputtering as he approached town. Mercer was flying a fixed-wing, single-engine Maule M-7-260C, registered to Three Aught Seven Trucking, LLC, a Wyoming company owned by his son.
“I got run over by a cow and my wife got me an appointment with Dr. Ohman for my birthday,” Martin joked after the incident. “The engine never quit all the way, but it was sputtering pretty good. Good way to start a Monday, huh?”
Emergency Landing on Highway 14
Realizing he wouldn’t safely reach the airport, Mercer scanned the landscape. He executed a controlled landing along mile marker 3, just east of Greybull.
“There was some traffic, with one lady coming over the hill,” he recalled. “I was able to get over so she could pass. The worst part was the power line across the road — that could have been a little dicey.”
No injuries were reported, and Mercer maneuvered the aircraft clear of the roadway. But with no fuel left and the engine needing a check, the plane couldn’t go anywhere until help arrived.
State Trooper Stands Watch
Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers responded and quickly secured the scene. It was not a crime scene, but a temporary aircraft parking zone on a state highway.
While Local Control Tower Staff transported Mercer into town to attend his appointment and obtain fuel, troopers remained with the airplane. They kept it safe from passing vehicles and would-be curiosity seekers — or even thieves — as the unusual cargo sat exposed along the roadside.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol later quipped, “Once in a while, troopers get into a situation where the subject ‘taking flight’ is a good thing.”
A Highway Takeoff
After finishing his appointment and returning with fuel — thanks to a ride from county airport manager Paul Thur — Mercer inspected the engine. He topped off the tank, and prepared for departure.
Troopers temporarily shut down a stretch of Highway 14. Mercer then taxied the plane east, turned around, and applied full throttle. The Maule climbed cleanly into the Wyoming morning, heading straight toward Greybull Airport where it landed safely minutes later.
“Sometimes, folks, you just wing it,” the patrol added in its social media post.
Hashtags used included #GuardiansOfTheCowboyState #TakingFlight #OneOfThoseDays #Wyoming.
A Monday Morning Story Wyoming Won’t Forget
From emergency landing to roadside refueling to a successful highway takeoff, the incident showcased calm piloting. It also showed quick action from first responders, and a Wyoming trooper literally protecting a grounded aircraft until it could resume its mission.
For Mercer, the adventure ended the same way it began: just trying to make it to a doctor’s appointment. Even if the trip required a brief unscheduled touchdown.
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