Iowa trooper lands troubled plane on highway

An Iowa state trooper landed a troubled patrol plane on a highway west of Guthrie Center, narrowly avoiding a pickup truck.

Trooper Scott Pigsley told radio station KJAN that the single-engine plane experienced engine failure about 3:30 p.m. Saturday near the Audubon-Guthrie County line. So, he says, he was forced to land on state Highway 44.

Pigsley says there were only a few cars on the highway at the time, but the aircraft was close to hitting a pickup head-on. The driver pulled over and offered to help. No injuries were reported, and the airplane was not damaged.

Pigsley, who has 15 years of flying experience, and a state conservation officer were monitoring deer hunters.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the plane's engine trouble.