Small Plane Crashes Into Tractor Near Bottineau

BOTTINEAU, N.D. (AP) — A pilot escaped injury when the small propeller plane he was flying crashed into an unoccupied tractor in a Bottineau County field.

The Highway Patrol says 66-year-old Charles Refling, of Bottineau, was circling a field on Tuesday night, breaking in the kit plane's new motor, when the motor died. Refling touched down in the field and struck a parked tractor with a swather and hay roller.

Refling was not hurt, but his plane suffered damage to both wings. The farm equipment also was damaged.