A small plane piloted by Eden Prairie resident Aaron Casper made an emergency landing on Highway 27 near Pierz, Minnesota, approximately 90 miles northwest of the Twin Cities, on Monday after experiencing engine failure, authorities said.
According to the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Casper, 53, was flying from the Brainerd area to Eden Prairie when his aircraft lost engine power at about 3,500 feet. He managed to land the plane on the highway and then steered it into a ditch to avoid traffic. No injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were involved.
Casper, the chair of the Eden Prairie School Board, was the sole occupant of the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident.
Local agencies, including the Pierz Police Department, Pierz Fire Department, and the Minnesota State Patrol, responded to the scene.
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