YATES CITY, Ill. (AP) -- A Nebraska man walked away nearly uninjured from a crash that all but destroyed the crop dusting plane he was piloting.

The Knox County sheriff's department says the crash happened Sunday afternoon in rural Yates City in western Illinois.

Authorities say Gary Denevan of Tekamah, Neb., told them he'd been spraying insecticide in the area after taking off from Monmouth Airport. He says he was out of insecticide and preparing to fly back when his engine suddenly stopped running.

Denevan told authorities he tried to guide the plane to a forced off-runway landing when the crash happened. Deputies say the plane sustained heavy damage, as did the farm field Denevan landed in.

Denevan was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Deputies say the FAA was notified of the crash and will investigate.

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Information from: Will Stevenson, WGIL-AM

Copyright 2010 The AP.