The FAA is investigating a forced landing of a crop dusting plane southeast of Vinton on Monday evening. Area aviation enthusiasts are praising the pilot for a successful response to a crisis situation.

    "It wasn't a crash, it was a very well-done forced landing," said Rick Hadley, a pilot and Airport Commission member. "I don't think the cause has been determined, but I'm told he had a loss of power for some reason and just landed it in the nearest bean field.  It appears they'll be able to tow the plane to the road and he should be able to fly it out from there, once the mechanical issue is dealt with. The plane was otherwise undamaged."

   Below is a summary from the Benton County Sheriff's Office:

     On Aug. 1, at approximately 6:40 p.m. a crop dusting airplane was reported down in a field in the 2700 block of 62nd Street in rural Benton County about 4 1/2 miles southeast of Vinton. The airplane was being operated by Noe Aviation of Vinton.    

     The pilot, Svante Karl Valter Ohman, age 65 of Oklahoma, reported experiencing mechanical failure.

     Ohman was able to safely land the aircraft in a bean field. The pilot, the only occupant of the aircraft, was uninjured. The aircraft appeared to have landed without any damage. North Benton Ambulance, The Vinton Fire Department and the Benton County Sheriff's Office responded.

    The FAA has officially identified this event as an incident, not a crash.