Small plane crashes in central Minnesota farm field; pilot suffers 'significant injuries'

A small plane's engine failed before the aircraft crashed in a central Minnesota farm field, leaving the pilot with "significant injuries," authorities said.

March 6, 2017 at 12:00PM

A small plane's engine failed before the aircraft crashed in a central Minnesota farm field, leaving the pilot with "significant injuries," authorities said.

The wreck occurred about 2:45 p.m. Saturday a half-mile southwest of the Paynesville Airport, according to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.

Police arrived and discovered Michael Jude, 71, of St. Cloud, standing outside his plane, an experimental, amateur-built model.

"Jude received significant injuries," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Jude was first taken to a hospital in Paynesville and then to St. Cloud Hospital for further treatment.

Jude told authorities he had left the Clear Lake Airport for the 50-mile trip west to the airport in Paynesville "but aborted the landing and was coming back around to land when he experienced engine failure and attempted to land in a corn stubble field … southwest of the end of the runway," the Sheriff's Office statement said.

The plane's wings and landing gear were damaged in the impact. The aircraft was amateur-built in 2009.

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Paul Walsh

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Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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