Two occupants of a vintage World War II era Navy plane walked away with minor injuries after a crash landing in a field in the Empire area after it developed problems Sunday afternoon.

The North American T-6 Texan aircraft came down at approximately 12:50 p.m. after the pilot radioed the tower to report being low on fuel.

Fortunately the pilot found a clear field to land in about three-and-a-half miles northeast of Ceres. It slid until it hit a slight embankment. At least one wing and the propeller was damaged

Emergency dispatchers received a call from Modesto Airport tower officials notifying Stanislaus Consolidated and Modesto Fire units that the plane landed two miles short of the runway and crashed in an open field near Santa Fe Avenue and South Avenue in Empire.

With the help of a private pilot flying overhead and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department drone they were able to locate the plane in the field with a man and woman outside.