April 21, 1978

TWO men had a miracle escape when their light aircraft made a dramatic forced landing in a field 200 yards from a busy main road.

The single engine Cessna 150 made the landing in a field close by the A435 Alcester to Birmingham Road at Portway.

Both pilot Mr Pete Roberts, of Brewood, Staffordshire, and pupil Mr Padeusz Koldodynski, of Rugeley, were shocked but unhurt.

The front engine casing of the plane was buckled, the front wheel ripped off and the propeller smashed as the plane landed nose first in the field - part of Branson's Cross Farm.