Look, up in the sky -- or rather, down in a field -- it's a plane.

A small single-engined aircraft paid a surprise visit to a Santa Rosa field near an elementary school in the Sonoma County city on Sunday morning, the Press-Democrat reported.

The pilot, Craig Little, began experiencing engine trouble soon after taking off from Sonoma County Airport for his Sunday flight, according to his wife, Debbie Little, a sheriff's deputy.

Despite losing power and "sputtering" over homes and fields at 1500 feet, Little managed to land his airplane safely. He was flown back to the airport in a helicopter.

What caused the plane to malfunction is not yet known. Little's piloting skills were beyond reproach, however.

"Into the wind, in a field, you couldn't have done any better," a witness said. "Nice job."