Flying Lesson Ends in Emergency Landing in Aroostook County

It was a scary ending to a flight lesson, when the engine failed and the pilot had to make an emergency landing in Aroostook County.

Maine State Police say Leigh Smith of Presque Isle was taking a flying lesson with his instructor, Cody Anderson on Wednesday, when the engine failed just before 1:00 in the afternoon. The men called 911 and made an emergency landing in a clear cut, off the Sullivan Road in T17 R3, in Aroostook County.

Game Warden Ryan Fitzpatrick and multiple other first responders rushed to the scene and found the plane with front end and wing damage. Anderson and Smith were transported to Fort Kent Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident remains under investigation by the Portland office of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Northeast office of the National Transportation Safety Board. (NTSB)