A pilot who was forced to crash land his light aircraft into a farmers' field in North Yorkshire was lucky to escape with his life, according to an eyewitness.

The Cessna 152 smashed into the ground at Summerfield Farm near Swainby east of the A19 at about 5pm on Tuesday afternoon.

The pilot, believed to be in his 30s and his passenger father, in his 50s, walked from the plane without serious injury after it experienced engine troubles on its journey from Bournemouth to Teesside.

Although one of the Bournemouth pair had to be treated for minor injuries at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

Accident investigators will travel to the crash scene to look for clues as to why the planes engine failed as it approached its destination. An Air Accident Investigation Branch spokesman said: "We are awaiting the accident report form from the pilot and then we will investigate the incident.

"Once we have received that information we will remove the aircraft for our investigation to be carried out."

North Yorkshire Fire Brigade will be on standby during the recovery process.

A 'mayday' call was made to Teesside International Airport before the plane crashed through a hedge and fence and came to rest just feet below electricity cables.

Trevor Mason, who runs an engineering business from Ashfield House in Black Horse Lane, Swainby, said: "I saw the plane when it was very low, I noticed the propeller wasn't turning and the plane started banking to the side.

"I followed it until it dropped out of sight behind my shed and then I heard a big bang so I jumped in my pick-up and drove round there. "The pilot and passenger were out of the plane and I asked them whether they were OK. They were remarkably calm and cool after what had happened.

"He must have been a very good pilot because he has got it down just in time to get under the electricity cables."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "It was a miraculous escape. The aircraft will be recovered in the normal way and there are no further issues."