18-year-old pilot survives crash landing near Shipshewana

SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. (AP) - An 18-year-old pilot in training is counting his blessings after the small plane he was flying crash-landed in a LaGrange County field.

Jordan Stoltzfus walked away uninjured after the two-seater airplane crashed less than a mile from his Shipshewana home. The Westview High School senior says he flew from Goshen Airport to Elkhart, performing a couple takeoffs and landings.

Stoltzfus says he noticed the plane's engine was having trouble when he was flying over his house. He says the engine completely gave out, causing the plane to lose altitude and speed before falling to the ground.

Stoltzfus says he brought the plane down in a field, but it slid into a propane tank and stopped near a house. He says he immediately shut the engine off and exited the plane.

Stoltzfus plans to study aviation at a college this fall.