Barcombe: Emergency landing as plane loses prop

Pilot John Smith and co-pilot James Green were flying to Shoreham Airport when they were forced to make an emergency land at Beak s Farm, Spithurst.

The farmer, Chris Holland, was with his cows in a neighbouring field when the unexpected guests dropped in on Sunday afternoon.

Police had been alerted 15 minutes before when a Newick resident called after seeing the plane in trouble overhead.

Mr Holland said: I didn t see or hear anything at the time. The plane landed silently because there was obviously no engine running.

The first I heard of it was when my wife came to tell me it had landed. I m just pleased I was able to provide them with a field to land in!

The pilot and co-pilot, from Wimbledon and Hampden Park, were remarkably calm when he approached them, Mr Holland said.

I suppose it s part of their training to spot a field in emergency conditions, he said. My cows had been in that field earlier in the afternoon, but I m sure the pilot would have been able to find another empty field to land in if necessary.

Fire crews from Barcombe and Uckfield joined the Sussex Police helicopter in searching from the plane after receiving the call from Newick.

The pilots had been flying from Lincoln to Shoreham when the 40,000 Stampe biplane experienced difficulties over the River Thames.

The plane was this week awaiting collection and transportation back to Shoreham.

Published: 11.7.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd