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SPANISH FORK — A pilot based in Spanish Fork made a successful emergency landing after an engine failure Saturday morning.
Mike Patey was flying his Wilga bush plane along with four other pilots in their planes over Utah Lake when he said the engine began shaking.
"It was like 3-2-1," Patey said. "It went from the slightest vibration to complete catastrophic, smoke, violent shaking."
Patey was concerned he might not make it back to the shoreline.
"I radioed back and I said, 'Guys get eyes on me. I'm going in. I'm not going to make the land,'" Patey said.
As Patey approached the water, he said the engine gave one final burst of power, which was enough to get him to the shore.
"I gained a couple hundred feet and then it went violent again and then it just died," Patey said.
At that point, Patey said the smoke coming from the engine compartment was blocking most of his forward vision. He caught a glimpse of a field ahead and looked out the side window to touch down as softly as he could. The Wilga came to rest in one piece in the middle of a muddy cornfield.
"I'm going home to family," he said. "It's the 4th of July weekend. I don't care about the motor. Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing and if the plane's not bent, it's a bonus."
Patey has another engine he was already planning to put in the Wilga. He says that will be his next project as soon as he gets his plane from the cornfield.
