Three people had a lucky escape after the plane they were travelling in crash-landed in a field in Ashburton on Sunday. The Cessna 172 set off from Bournemouth and was on its way to Truro when it got into difficulty at around noon. It is thought that the plane had engine trouble and had to make an emergency landing at Lower Whiddon Farm. All three aboard – pilot James Bulman, from Dorchester, and passengers Eleonora Bulman and Domenica Lopane – were uninjured in the crash but were left shaken by the experience. The Air Accident Investigation Branch was not called to the scene as no one was hurt, but police and firefighters attended. Firefighters from Bovey Tracey, Ashburton and Moretonhampstead swiftly dealt with fuel leaking from the aircraft. Renee Vallance, owner of Lower Whiddon Farm, where the plane came down, was relieved to find that those aboard were uninjured. 'They were very lucky, they didn't have a scratch on them,' she said. 'It really crashed down into our field and did a nose dive. The plane is still there now. The insurance assessors have been around today and I think it will be in our field for a while. I am just glad those on the plane are all safe.' Tony Harwood, divisional duty manager with Devon Fire and Rescue Service, praised the pilot's skill in making an emergency landing. 'Cessnas are very light and often tend to flip when the wings or propellers get struck. 'To land and keep it on its wheels without injuring anyone is quite remarkable.' When the fire crews arrived, the occupants had already been taken into a nearby farmhouse. 'The farmer took it all remarkably calmly and said it was the fourth incident in his lifetime that he had experienced there.' l Eight years ago, a similar accident occurred in Ashburton, killing former RAF Red arrows leader Capt Raymond Loverseed and Canadian pilot Adam Saunders. The engines of the Dash 7 aircraft they were piloting exploded.