A small plane crashed into a farmer's field just east of the Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport on Friday morning.
Chatham-Kent police say the lone occupant was transported to hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
Chatham-Kent EMS are reporting the patient - a 66-year-old Thamesville man - was assessed, treated and transported with minor injuries.
Police say around 9:20 a.m. a small plane suffered a mechanical failure shortly after take-off.
"He experienced some engine difficulties while in the air and attempted to return to the airport for a safe landing. Unfortunately in that process, quite near the airport, he got further engine difficulties and lost power," says Chatham-Kent Sgt. Paul Pomajba.
Officials say the pilot avoided nearby barns and machinery, opting to land in the corn for cushioning.
"If you had an engine failure on take off, if you're low altitude, generally the training is do not try to turn back to the airport. That's how most accidents happen just try to do a controlled landing straight ahead which if this is the case that's probably what he did," says David Carrick, area pilot.
The plane is reportedly a two-thirds scale Spitfire.
Transport Canada has been notified.
"They've been contacted, we've taken photographs and mapped the scene and they've been provided that information. The photographs and the statements that we have and they've chosen not to attend," says Sgt. Pomajba.
The Transportation Safety Board is also aware of the incident and collecting information.
