Rhode Island couple who miraculously walked away UNINJURED when small plane crashed into water recall terrifying mayday near-death experience

A Rhode Island couple is lucky to be alive after their small plane, which was running out of power, crashed in the Narragansett Bay.

On Saturday, husband and wife Paul and Alysia Larson were nearing the end of their flight when their plane started losing power, forcing an emergency water landing just out of reach of Quonset State Airport.

Alysia, a mother-of-seven and the pilot of the plane, was worried she and her husband of 26 years weren't going to survive as they has to land on water.

'There was a moment where I was like, 'I'm not sure we're going to make it,'' pilot Alysia told local NBC affiliate WJAR.

'And then I'm like, 'nope, we're not going to die today. We're going to make it.''

Husband and wife Paul and Alysia Larson were nearing the end of their flight when their plane started losing power, forcing an emergency landing just out of reach of Quonset State Airport

Alysia, a mother of seven and the pilot of the plane, was worried her and her husband of 26 years weren't going to survive as they has to land on water

Once the yellow plane (pictured poking out of the water) made contact with the bay, it immediately starting filling up with water

'We were on a half-mile final,' she continued. 'We were so close to the runway. I suddenly thought to add a little bit of power to gain a little bit of height and I had no power. That's when I realized we were not going to make the runway.'

The couple was flying in Alysia's late father's single engine Pipe Comanche, which she grew up flying as a little girl.

Both flyers were volunteers with the Civil Air Patrol, so they were trained on what to do in this kind of emergency situation.

They promptly sent a Mayday call to Quanset's control tower, review their emergency checklist, and braced for impact into the freezing cold bay.

Alysia said had it not been for her husband's quick instincts, they probably would not have survived. 

'He had the foresight to unlatch and open the door before impact,' Larson added. 

'It may have saved our lives because you never know, if you can't get the door open against the water pressure that would've been an entirely different scenario. And the Piper Comanche only has one door.'

Once the plane made contact with the water, it immediately starting filling up with water. But the couple knew just what to do.

The couple was flying in Alysia's late father's single engine Pipe Comanche, which she grew up flying as a little girl

Both flyers were volunteers with the Civil Air Patrol, so they were trained on what to do in this kind of emergency situation

Alysia painted a visual, describing how her and her husband managed to stay afloat.

'We both took a wing,' Alysia said. 'We were both on the separate right and left wings. The nose was nose down and taking on water rapidly. Then it really started to go quickly. At the very end we were both just hanging on to the tail.'

Luckily, Alysia had her phone tucked into her shirt when she escaped the aircraft. She called 911, and North Kingstown emergency crew responded to their distress call just before 3 pm.

The couple remained in the water for upwards of 20 minutes before rescue crews reached them. 

'I was ready to start swimming immediately, he [Paul] said no we have to stay with the aircraft and out of the water for as long as possible. I followed his lead on that,' Alysia said.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed with WJAR that the plane lies at the bottom of the bay, split into two pieces

 The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed with WJAR that the plane sunk to the bottom of the bay, split into two pieces.

The couple started to swim to shore when Paul started to tire out. 

'There was a moment there where I was like, can I tow Paul?' Larson recalled 'He had a lot more clothing on, he had a leather jacket on so it was harder for him.'

Alysia and Paul were rescued with minor injuries by the North Kingstown Fire and Police, the U.S. Coast Guard and the RI Department of Environmental Management.  

The two reunited with their family Saturday night, the day before Easter Sunday.

'Seeing all five of my kids and my son-in-law,' Larson choked. 'An overwhelming sense of gratitude.'