Pilot's Last Act.

Jack Francis, a 61-year-old private pilot from Brigham City, Utah, was flying home from Jackpot, Nevada, with his wife and another couple on June 4, when he experienced the symptoms of a heart attack. Recognizing that he might not have much time to land, he looked for a safe place to set the single-engine Cessna 185 down, and spotted Utah Highway 30 below.

Mr. Francis touched down on the highway, just west of Park Valley, after which the plane ran off the roadway and hit a fence before coming to a stop. Though the plane suffered some damage, Francis and his passengers survived the crash without injury. However, the quick-thinking pilot's symptoms were worsening. He was taken to Bear River Hospital in Tremonton, where he died of cardiac arrest.

Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Derek Jensen told the Deseret Morning News: "[Francis'] actions saved the lives of the other people in the plane because the outcome could have been a lot worse if he hadn't landed in time and had more problems while in the air. He definitely did prevent injuries and loss of life on the part of the other three passengers, no doubt about it."