Two pilots were uninjured today after making an emergency landing in a Kosciusko County bean field.
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department responded to the area of CR 150 East and the Elkhart/Kosciusko County Line Road at approximately 11:43 a.m. after receiving a report of an airplane that was forced to make an emergency landing in a bean field.
Chad L. Miller of Topeka, Indiana, was piloting a single engine 1978 Grumman Tiger at approximately 3500 feet when one side of the prop sheered-off.
Miller was obtaining flight hours from instructor William T. Reid of Howe, Indiana and was able to safely land the airplane with minimal damage.
Miller and Reid had taken-off from the airport at Howe, Indiana, and were planning on making "stop and go/touch and go" landings at the airport in Goshen, Indiana when the incident occurred in flight.
Both Miller and Reid had inspected the prop prior to take-off and had not found signs of stress at that time.
FAA officials were contacted from South Bend as well as a mechanical team from the Goshen Airport to load and inspect the aircraft.
Milford Fire Department and the Multi-Township E.M.S. were also at the scene as precautionary.