Northfield Man Escapes Small Airplane Crash

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (WCCO) -- The pilot of a small single-engine aircraft escaped with minor injuries on Tuesday afternoon after an aborted landing, police say.

According to Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows, Berry Harris Svien, 61, of Northfield, was flying back to his home, located east of Highway 3 and just north of County Road 86.

He attempted to land on the runway located on his property, but mechanical problems with the rudder at 1,700 feet had Svien crashing into a cornfield. The plane then caught fire.

Svien escaped the plane with only minor cuts to his neck. The aircraft, a 2002 Kit Fox, was destroyed.