OCILLA, GA. --
An Irwin County Sheriffs investigator says a pilot who had to make an emergency stop in a cotton field south of Ocilla, Ga has been released from the hospital after being treated for minor head injuries.

Around 10:00 a.m. investigator Curt Morgan was the first to report to the scene of a grounded Piper Cherokee 180 passenger plane.

The pilot, whose name is not being released due to an ongoing investigation, was heading south from Tennessee when he had to make an emergency stop due to what officials believe were mechanical problems.

The male suffered minor head injuries while attempting to land the plane safely in a cotton field off Highway 129. He was transported to a nearby hospital for observation.

Officials say the small four-seater single engine plane incurred minor damages to the bottom of the landing gear.

The FAA and NTSB are expected to arrive in the area to complete the investigation.