AND FIRE CREWS ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO AVOID THE AREA. >>> A MASSIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER THIS AFTERNOON AFTER A PILOT HEADING TO THE TROUTDALE AIRPORT WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY WATER LANDING. WE SPOKE WITH THAT PILOT MINUTES AFTER CREWS GOT HIM TO SOLID GROUND. FIREFIGHTERS, COAST GUARD, AND COUNTY DEPUTIES RUSHING TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER MONDAY FOR A SMALL AIRCRAFT THAT MADE AN EMERGENCY WATER LANDING. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS RETURNING TO TROUTDALE FROM VANCOUVER WHEN THE PLANE POWERED DOWN. >> JUST TURNING TO THE 90 DEGREES TO THE RUNWAY AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAS AT PATTERN ALTITUDE 800 OR 900 FEET AND I ATTEMPTED TO REACH START THE ENGINE. I CHANGED GAS TANKS. NONE OF THAT WOULD RESTART THE ENGINE. I CONSIDERED MY OPTIONS AND I DECIDED TO LAND IN THE WATER JUST OFF THE BEACH TWO MILES FROM THE RUNWAY. >> THE PLANE LANDING EAST OF THE TROUTDALE AIRPORT NEAR GARY ISLAND. >> IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE DOOR BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP, CRAWLED OUT ONTO THE WING INTO THE WATER AND SWAM AWAY. >> HE SAYS A HELICOPTER LANDED NEARBY AND CREWS CHECKED HIM OUT, CONFIRMING HE WALKED AWAY UNHARMED. >> IT WOULD APPEAR AS THOUGH ON THAT SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND IS KIND OF NEAR A CHANNEL AND HE WAS SOUNDED LIKE MAYBE STANDING IN THE WATER. SO IT WAS PRETTY SHALLOW THERE. >> BOATS BROUGHT HIM TO CHINOOK LANDING WHILE THE PLANE SAT SIX FEET UNDERWATER. WITH THE