Plane Flips Over In North Dakota Cornfield

They say any publicity is good publicity... but this isn't how most politicians want their names to get into the papers. A North Dakota congressional candidate suffered minor injuries Wednesday morning when his plane made a forced landing in a cornfield.

The Associated Press reports a Cessna 172 piloted by Duane Sand struck soft dirt upon landing, and nosed over... coming to rest upside down. Sand, who earned his pilot license in September, said his engine quit as he flew at about 1,500 feet AGL due to low clouds en route.

"It happened so fast, the only thing I could do was put my hands in front of my face," Sand said. "I didn't realize I was flipping over until I saw the ground coming through my windshield."

Sand was able to extricate himself from the wreckage before emergency teams arrived. He suffered minor cuts, a bruised hip and more bruises on his head.

"I'm just glad to be alive," Sand said. "It was a pretty ugly crash. ... I'm sore, but I'm physically fit."

Sand, a Republican, is making his third bid for Congress. He's running against eight-term Democratic incumbent Earl Pomeroy.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 1437Y        Make/Model: C172      Description: 172, P172, R172, Skyhawk, Hawk XP, Cutla
  Date: 06/04/2008     Time: 1549

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: NORTONVILLE   State: ND   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, 1/2 MILE FROM
  NORTONVILLE, ND

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: KJMS 1556Z AUTO 14005KT7SM BKN010 OVC016 14/13 A2956

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: FARGO, ND  (GL21)                     Entry date: 06/05/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.duanesand.com/