Single Engine Aircraft Makes Controlled Emergency Landing

An aircraft belonging to Indian Hills Community College made an emergency landing near the intersection of Osbuurn Ave and 305th St in Mahaska County on Thursday evening. (photo by Dan Hoy)

Mahaska County, Iowa – A small single engine Piper Warrior 2, a low-wing monoplane, made a controlled emergency landing in rural Mahaska County on Thursday evening.

The aircraft, registered to Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, took off with an instructor and a student aboard. When the aircraft began to experience trouble, the instructor took control, landing it at the intersection of Osburn Avenue and 305th street, between 4 and 5pm on Thursday.

Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem said that his office received a report of an airplane sitting in a farm field, at approximately 6:15pm on Thursday evening. When deputies arrived, the aircraft was empty and no individuals were at the scene.

Shortly afterward, while deputies were investigating, a mechanic from the Ottumwa Airport arrived on the scene to examine the aircraft. There was no structural or external damage to the aircraft, only the engine malfunction that had forced the landing.

On Friday morning, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office provided escort for the crippled aircraft to the Oskaloosa Airport. Van Renterghem explained that they utilized gravel roads as much as possible and warned drivers in the area of the wide load making its way down the road. In total, approximately 6 miles were travelled to tow the aircraft.

Van Renterghem said that the FAA and NTSB have been alerted to the emergency landing. According to Van Renterghem, there was no order by the FAA to leave the aircraft in place until investigators could inspect the plane.

Van Renterghem was happy that no one was hurt in the emergency landing.