Pilot parachutes out before plane crashes into field

MONROE COUNTY, IL -- A 21-year old pilot working for a skydiving company in southern Illinois made his first parachute jump - but not by choice.

"Two skydivers jumped out. They were the last two I had in my airplane. The last skydiver on his way out struck the elevator of the aircraft," said pilot Shawn Kinmartin.

The elevator controls the aircraft's climb and descent.

After struggling to control the Cessna 182 for ten minutes, Kinmartin realized he wouldn't be able to land the plane, so he headed for fields and bailed.

"When I jumped out of the airplane, it was at 2,000 feet, so I only had 1,500 feet to the ground. And when I jumped out, the plane spiraled and crashed into the field," he said. "After I jumped out of the plane and I knew it was going to land in a field and not actually hit a building or hurt anyone else and my chute finally did deploy - that point, I finally had the rush of skydiving."

Company policy requires all pilots to wear a parachute, and it came in handy this weekend. The plane crumpled on impact.