Follow up…Apr 1, 2013

FAULKTON, S.D. (AP) – A South Dakota pilot who made an emergency landing in southeastern North Dakota says he didn’t panic when his engine started to sputter at 5,000 feet.
 
     Keith Melius, of Faulkton, says he managed to stay calm because he had done many emergency landing drills with his flight instructor before earning his pilot license in 2005.
 
     Melius made a successful emergency landing in a snow-covered field south of Jamestown last Tuesday and walked away unscathed. He tells the American News that the plane was damage but is not beyond repair. He says he plans to fly again.

 

Reported previously…

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Mar 26, 2013)– Area law enforcement were alerted to an airplane that made a forced landing, on Tuesday afternoon.

Stutsman and LaMoure County Sheriffs Offices were alerted just before 2-p.m.

Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser said he was contacted by Minneapolis air control that a small plane was having mechanical difficulty and was going down in a field, about 18 miles south of Jamestown and about a mile west along county road 46.

The incident was reported by another aircraft flying within range of the plane that was having the problem, and that it was going to land.

The plane, a 1978 Cesna 172,  landed safely  in the field, and was located by authorities, a half mile southwest of the intersection of Highway 281 and Highway 46.

Highway Patrol Sgt., Thomas Herzig reports, the pilot, 46 year old Keith Melius of Faulkton, South Dakota, maintained control of the plane, during the landing on the snow covered field.

He was not injured, the aircraft sustained some damages, yet to be determined.

The incident remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Adminstration, and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Reported Tuesday afternoon…

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Mar 26, 2013)– Area law enforcement were alerted to an airplane that made a forced landing, on Tuesday afternoon.

Stutsman and LaMoure County Sheriff’s Offices were alerted just before 2-p.m.

Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser said he was contacted by Minneapolis air control that a small plane was having difficulty and was going down in a field, about 18 miles south of Jamestown and about a mile west along county road 46.

The incident was reported by another aircraft flying within range of the plane that was having the problem, and that it was going to land.

The plane landed in the field, and was located by authorities, however it was not immediately known of any injuries to the pilot, who was reportedly  the lone occupant of the aircraft.

The incident remains under investigation.