Photo credit: Jackson County Sheriff's Office 

(KNZA)--A crop duster pilot escaped serious injury after a crash landing in rural Jackson County Monday afternoon.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says the crash was reported around 12:30 p.m. in a field south of K-9 Highway, about a half-mile west of the Atchison County line, east of Whiting.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the plane struck a communication pole while flying about 100 feet above the ground. The aircraft then crash-landed and caught fire.

Morse says the 49-year-old pilot from Vernon, Texas, was able to get out of the plane and walk to a nearby farmhouse to get help. He was evaluated at the scene by Jackson County EMS but declined transport to a hospital.

Firefighters from the Netawaka and Whiting Fire Departments responded and extinguished the fire.