This article was published in the Lenoir News-Topic.

The pilot of a small single-engine plane that made an emergency landing on U.S. 321 North in front of the Walmart in Granite Falls Monday night told authorities he ran out of fuel, Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeff Womack said.

The pilot was on his way from Clarksburg, W.Va., to Hickory Regional Airport – about five miles from the area where he made his emergency landing at about 10:50 p.m. Monday. There were no other passengers on the plane, and no injuries were reported.Eric Klein of Hickory owns the plane, according to FAA registration data.

No vehicles were harmed by the plane’s emergency landing, Womack said.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident, FAA communications manager Kathleen Bergen said.