The Dirty Dancing star was lucky to escape with cuts and bruises

Fortunately, Swayze, who was travelling alone, walked away from the scene nursing just cuts and bruises.

A spokesman for the Prescott Valley police said the plane landed on a paved street in the middle of a housing development which is under construction.

As it landed, the aircraft hit a pole, ripping off a four-foot section of its right wing.

According to some reports, Swayze flagged down a passing vehicle and telephoned his mother to let her know he was safe.

Investigating

The star's spokesman, Annet Wolf, confirmed he had been involved in an accident.

She said he was not seriously hurt and added that he had a home near Las Vegas.

The Federal Aviation Authority are investigating the incident to try and found out what forced Swayze to make an emergency landing.

Part of the wing section ripped from Patrick Swayze's plane lies behind a damaged sign

They lost track of the plane at 13,000 feet and were unable to contact him by radio. Initial reports suggest it may have been a pressurisation problem.

Swayze, best known for his roles in Ghost and Dirty Dancing, is not the only star to have a lucky escape from a plane crash.

Jockey Frankie Dettori broke an ankle and burned his hands when the aircraft he was in crashed in flames at Newmarket racetrack on Thursday and Formula 1 racing driver David Coulthard walked away unhurt from a smash earlier this year.

US golf star Payne Stewart and five friends died last October when his private plane lost pressure after taking off from Florida.