A small Cessna plane made an emergency landing on Interstate 15 about 3 miles north of Craig on Friday afternoon.

The plane, which had to land when the engine quit due to mechanical difficulties, landed safely at about 5 p.m., according to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.

The pilot, Bill Burkland of Clancy, was not injured and the Cessna 172 four-seat plane was not damaged, Dutton said.

Burkland, a civil engineer, was flying back to Helena from a job site in Glasgow when the plane's engine quit and he had to perform a power-off landing. He was safe off the side of the roadway by the time deputies and troopers arrived on the scene, Dutton said.

One southbound lane was shut down while the plane was investigated Friday evening. A mechanic was assessing the best way to remove the plane, which will be removed today, Dutton said.

Angela Brandt: 447-4078 or angela.brandt@helenair.com