RENO COUNTY—A pilot and passenger avoided injuries after forced to make an emergency landing just after 6p.m. Wednesday in Reno County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Timmer William Air Cam - Aircraft piloted by&nbsp;Steven Craig Suddarth, 66, Edgewood, New Mexico, ran out of fuel and landed in a wheat field on East 20th and Fountainwood, near Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

Reno County EMS evaluated Suddarth and his passenger&nbsp;Deborah Annette Suddarth, 71, Edgewood, New Mexico, at the scene and they were later released without being transported to a hospital.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/5/1779328970933.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Jayd Powers" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Jayd Powers</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY—A pilot and passenger avoided injuries after forced to make an emergency landing just after 6p.m. Wednesday in Reno County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Timmer William Air Cam - Aircraft piloted by&nbsp;Steven Craig Suddarth, 66, Edgewood, New Mexico, ran out of fuel and landed in a wheat field on East 20th and Fountainwood, near Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/5/1779328944806.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Jayd Powers" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Jayd Powers</figcaption>
 </figure>Reno County EMS evaluated Suddarth and his passenger&nbsp;Deborah Annette Suddarth, 71, Edgewood, New Mexico, at the scene and they were later released without being transported to a hospital.

Why a pilot was forced to land in a Kansas wheat field