ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The pilot of a small plane survived a crash landing just before 9p.m. Thursday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1966 Cessna piloted by John J.&nbsp;Shaffer, 43,&nbsp;Tuscola, Texas, ran out of fuel and crashed at 325 20th Road northeast of Ellsworth, one mile west of the 20th Road and Avenue D intersection.

Shaffer had no apparent injury, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/7/1783706569862.png" alt="Photos Ellsworth County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Ellsworth County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The pilot of a small plane survived a crash landing just before 9p.m. Thursday in Ellsworth County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/7/1783706599343.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1966 Cessna piloted by John J.&nbsp;Shaffer, 43,&nbsp;Tuscola, Texas, ran out of fuel and crashed at 325 20th Road northeast of Ellsworth, one mile west of the 20th Road and Avenue D intersection.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/7/1783675567784.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>Shaffer had no apparent injury, according to the KHP.

Pilot forced to crash land small plane in rural Kansas