Small plane makes emergency landing

BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - A small plane landed on private property Monday morning east of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after the lone pilot on board had mechanical problems in the front of the propeller Cessna plane.

ABIA spokesman Jim Halbrook said the plane landed in a pasture near an unpaved road in Bastrop County after it experienced engine failure.

The pilot had a scheduled landing at ABIA Monday around 10:30 a.m. from Houston, but the distress call came in after noticing some problems.

An alert originally issued for airport fire trucks and other emergency responders to meet the plane was called off after the aircraft decided to land on private property at 2856 W. State Highway 71, about seven miles east of the airport.

Officials said the pilot tried to land the plane in the road but accidentally hit a fence, damaging the wing. An ABIA communications spokesperson said there was minor damage to the aircraft.

Authorities said the pilot refused treatment on the scene and was up and walking around just after the incident.

It was a private plane, and the Texas Department of Public Safety and Bastrop County officials were on scene investigating. Halbrook said DPS will continue to investigate until the Federal Aviation Administration arrives.

Meanwhile, airport officials said it is standard for ABIA fire and rescue to respond to any incident on and off airport premises.