Kosciusko County bean field serves as pilot's emergency landing site

SBT24/7 News Report

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Two pilots escaped injury late Monday morning while landing their plane — with a sheered-off prop — in a bean field near the Koscuisko County/Elkhart County line. (Photo Provided)

By WSBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Jan 5, 2009 at 3:32 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 12, 2009 at 7:24 AM EST

Two pilots were uninjured late Monday morning after making an emergency landing in a Kosciusko County bean field near County Road 150 East and the Elkhart County/Kosciusko County Line Road.

At 11:43 a.m., the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department responded to that area on report of a plane in trouble. Chad Miller, 34, of Topeka, was piloting a single-engine 1978 Grumman Tiger at 3,500 feet, when one side of the plane’s prop sheered off, according to Miller.

Miller — a licensed pilot since 2000 — was flying with pilot William Reid, 79, of Howe, so Miller could complete his required flight review. Miller safely landed the plane with no injury to either pilot and minimal damage to the plane.

"It was luck and being watched over" that made the emergency landing possible, Miller told WSBT-TV, noting he'd never had that kind of incident happen before. After the emergency landing, Miller was told he did pass his bi-annual flight review.

The FAA is continuing to investigate the incident. Miller said the plane's wing's must now be removed and then the plane hauled out of the field for inspection as to what caused 1 1/2-feet of the prop to sheer off.

Miller and Reid had taken off from the airport at Howe and were planning to make “stop-and-go/touch-and-go” landings at the Goshen airport when the prop sheered.

Milford Fire Department firefighters and Multi-Township EMS also responded to the scene.

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