Two Walk Away From Tomahawk In Twin Falls, Idaho

A Piper Tomahawk (first described by local media as a "cropduster") lay overturned in an Idaho potato field after a forced landing Friday. Amazingly, the pilot and passenger were able to walk away.

"It looked like it landed and traveled 92 yards before it stopped, flipped over on its top and came to a rest," said Jerome County (ID) Sheriff Jim Hunter.

The aircraft was flying from Jerome Airport near Twin Falls (ID) Friday when it apparently suffered a fuel problem. The unidentified pilot, an instructor, tried to return to the airport, but was unable to make the runway.

"You could tell he had time to think about what he was doing to do because he had his flaps down," said flight student Tom Peters, who took photos of the accident. Peters said it was apparent the instructor skimmed across the rows of potato plants, trying to lose airspeed, before he touched down and flipped over.

The female passenger was taken to a nearby hospital where she was treated and released, according to authorities. The pilot refused treatment.

The FAA and NTSB will investigate the accident.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov