Small plane forced to land on suburban St. Louis roadway

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a small plane made an emergency landing on a busy suburban St. Louis roadway.

The single-engine plane landed just before 9 p.m. Monday on Page Avenue in Maryland Heights. No one was hurt, either in the plane or on the ground. The landing forced closure of two lanes while the plane was moved to the side of the road.

Authorities say the pilot and one passenger were aboard the fixed-wing Piper. The small plane left Mexico, Missouri, just after 8 p.m. and was heading to Creve Coeur Airport to practice takeoffs and landings.

Investigators say the plane experienced engine failure shortly after one of those practice takeoffs, forcing the pilot to find a place to land.