Valparaiso Police say there were no injuries to the pilot or passenger or anyone on the ground when a small plane made an emergency landing on the southbound side of State Road 49, just a little north of the US 30 exit, around 3:45 Tuesday afternoon.  Police say the pilot reported experiencing engine trouble on his way back to the Porter County Regional Airport.


(photo by Laura Waluszko/Radio One Communications)

By about 5:20 pm the plane was on a flatbed being driven to the airport.  Director of the Porter County Regional Airport Kyle Kuebler says the plane, which was undamaged in the landing, is a 1943 Taylorcraft L-2, a manufactured aircraft, not home-built.

Additional information from Valparaiso Police Wednesday morning:

Police on June 26th at 3:40 pm began receiving calls that a plane was flying low in the area of State Road 49 and Laporte Ave and possibly having engine troubles. Police at 3:42 p.m. received additional information that the plane had landed on State Road 49.

Police arrived in the area and learned that a small single engine plane had landed on State Road 49 after experiencing engine problems. The pilot was identified as Anthony Vendramin 68 yrs old of Hobart. The pilot, a passenger and no one on the ground was injured. Vendramin confirmed the plane was experiencing engine problems prior to landing on the highway. The Porter County Airport confirmed the plane was from the airport.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the scene and began an investigation. The plane was loaded on the back of a flat bed tow truck and driven back to the Porter County Airport.  The FAA’s investigation continues.

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