Private wrote:


Since we can now assume that this pilot had insurance, it will be
interesting to see how his insurance company feels about willful negligence.

Insurance companies cover stupidity, that's their main reason for being
there.


While an EMERGENCY landing on a public road is not illegal, I have always
thought that the practical consequence would be that the police would impose
a non- judicial penalty by requiring removal of the wings and trucking to an
airport. "There is no such thing as an emergency takeoff." This raises the
question whether this pilot had received a "clearance to takeoff".

What are you talking about? There was no emergency takeoff. There is
no requirement that the airplane be operated only from airports. As for
impounding a plane, why would the police do that? In many states it's
quite legal to use the road to land. It's a state issue on non federal
roads. The pilot needs no clearance for takeoff from a public road.