A flying instructor and her pupil had a miracle escape when their aircraft lost power at 200ft.

Sophie Davies, 26, and Zain Philbey, 28, were flying over Shoreham yesterday evening when the PA28 aircraft's engine stopped and it began falling to the ground.

Rather than panicking Miss Davies, who works as an instructor for Shoreham Airport-based Flying Time Aviation, managed to emergency land the plane in a field between the A27 and the A259.

Miss Davies, from Worthing, said at one point she thought she might hit nearby houses which were just yards from where the aircraft eventually landed in a farmer's field, not far from Shoreham Airport.

Amazingly the pair escaped unhurt.

The aircraft lost its wheels and was partly damaged.

Sussex Police guarded the scene but escorted The Argus to the crash site to look around.

Miss Davies and Mr Philbey, speaking at the scene of the accident, said they could not believe they escaped unhurt.

Miss Davies said: “After the landing we both just looked at each other and started laughing.”

She said they had been landing and taking off again and were on their third go at this when the aircraft lost power suddenly.

Miss Davies, who has flown for 12 years, said: “We were in the air and we felt the power go.

“I put out a Mayday call and prepared to land.

“It was a little bit surreal but there was not a lot we could do.

“My training just kicked straight - I took over the controls, quickly picked a field and glided the aircraft down to a safe landing near the airport.

“We were moving fast with such a short distance to glide to safety.”

Mr Philbey, of Purley in Croydon, said: “We had only been practising for about 40 minutes.

“I had lessons in what to do in these sorts of situations but I did not expect to have to use them so quickly.”

But he vowed not to give up.

The salesman said: “I am not going to stop learning to fly. I want to get back in the air.”

Director of Flying Time Aviation Jonathan Candelon said: “Even with the best, newest equipment sometimes the unexpected can happen and that is why training is absolutely crucial to safety.

“Sophie has proved how important training is for the safe operation of aircraft and we are glad that everyone is safe. The engineers have been informed of the engine problem and will be investigating the cause as soon as possible.”

Police said there was nothing suspicious surrounding the crash and that the matter would be referred to the Air Accident Investigation Branch.