Pilot safely lands Piper Cub on Tuddalsvegen in Hjartdal after propeller malfunction

Jip Verwer recounts the tense moments he experienced when the propeller of his Piper Cub aircraft unexpectedly ceased functioning while flying at 4,000 feet on his way back to Notodden Airport from a trip to Gaustablikk. In the immediate aftermath of the engine failure, he focused solely on safely landing the aircraft. “It took a few seconds before it registered,” he explained, “but I found a path to land on, between the woods and the marsh, and aimed for it.”

Despite his attempts to restore the propeller’s function by accelerating, Verwer was unsuccessful. Faced with the need to land, he compromised and set down on a road. “There were tall trees on the sides, and the plane just cleared the snowbanks,” he noted. He safely landed on county road 3430, Tuddalsvegen, in Hjartdal, Telemark.

Verwer is eager to fly again despite the emergency landing. The aircraft remains intact, now located in the woods rather than at the airport. He managed to alert authorities with the help of a passing motorist, using their phone after his own lost reception. Police were notified around 8:25 PM on Tuesday.

According to local police, the pilot followed all necessary protocols, and there were no passengers aboard. Both Verwer and the aircraft are unharmed. At just 21 years of age, he works as an apprentice aircraft mechanic and obtained his pilot’s license at 17. Living in Notodden and frequently flying, Verwer stated, “I was a bit shaken afterward, but I would prefer to fly again tomorrow.”