Pilots run out of fuel, pray, land near Jesus sign ( Archived) (7)

Pilots run out of fuel, pray, land near Jesus sign
Men able to glide powerless microlight to a safe landing on grassy strip

updated 8:26 p.m. ET, Wed., May. 21, 2008
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - It seemed like an almost literal answer to their prayers. When two New Zealand pilots ran out of fuel in a microlight airplane they offered prayers and were able to make an emergency landing in a field — coming to rest right next to a sign reading, "Jesus is Lord."

Grant Stubbs and Owen Wilson, both from the town of Blenheim on the country's South Island, were flying up the sloping valley of Pelorus Sound when the engine spluttered, coughed and died.

"My friend and I are both Christians so our immediate reaction in a life-threatening situation was to ask for God's help," Stubbs told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

He said he prayed during the ill-fated flight Sunday that the tiny craft would get over the top of a ridge and that they would find a landing site that was not too steep — or in the nearby sea.

Wilson said that the pair would have been in deep trouble if the fuel had run out five minutes earlier.

"If it had to run out, that was the place to be," he said. "There was an instantaneous answer to prayer as we crossed the ridge and there was an airfield — I didn't know it existed till then."

After Wilson glided the powerless craft to a landing on the grassy strip, the pair noticed they were beside a 20-foot-tall sign that read, "Jesus is Lord — The Bible."

"When we saw that, we started laughing," Stubbs said.

Nearby residents provided them with gas to fly the home-built plane back to base.

He hears us when we need Him the most!!!

Sorry, I’m an atheist and also a pilot. I fly ultra lights and micro lights. I have landed dead stick about 15 times with no problem. These small planes have rotax snow mobile 2 cycle engines. Pilots of these planes will tell you engine outs are common and landing one in that condition is very easy compared to something like a 155 Cessna. I could explain why but there wouldn’t be much point.


I wont question or challenge your beliefs. That’s not my right. But I will tell you this feat is no miracle. Sorry, no desire to offend.

Absolutely!!! I believe he is speaking and showing himself more and more each day...

Right now, the Detroit Red Wings

nah, just the Great and Powerful OZzy

Well, Miracle? Eye of the beholder stuff... We can look for and find God and Miracles, as well as help to make them for each other (Give God a break, and help someone have a Miracle yourself )... Makes a nice story though.

Take Care and God Bless...