Plane makes emergency landing in Gage County bean field

BEATRICE, Neb. (KLKN) – A single-engine aircraft safely made an emergency landing Monday morning in a bean field about a mile north of Beatrice.

The flight started in Seward and was supposed to finish in Arkansas this afternoon.

But the pilot was forced to land 2 miles short of the Beatrice Airport around 6:30 a.m. due to mechanical malfunctions.

He was the only person on board the plane and did not get hurt.

Chief Deputy Doug Klaus with the Gage County Sheriff’s Office said this isn’t the first time he’s seen an emergency landing.

“In this particular instance, there was no damage to the aircraft,” Klaus said. “He was able to land in a bean field before he got to some taller corn.”

The plane was towed to the Beatrice Airport, where it will sit for an inspection.

A good Samaritan who lives near the bean field saw police escort the plane and decided to follow.

“I saw an airplane being towed by a truck, and then there was a cop following going to Highway 77,” Jerome Beck said. “Next thing I know they start heading into town, so I joined the convoy to help protect everyone else.”

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the malfunction and emergency landing.

Authorities haven’t said what went wrong with the engine.