ST. LOUIS COUNTY -- A biplane crashed this afternoon near Creve Coeur Airport, injuring two people, authorities said.

The plane crashed about 3:15 p.m. into trees River Valley Drive and Highway 364, authorities said. Two people suffered minor injuries.

The biplane's pilot, Albert Stix, 73, of St. Louis County, said he and a passenger had just taken off from Creve Coeur Airport when the engine died.
 
Stix said the Stearman biplane was made in the mid-1930s. He said  he  got the engine started again briefly before it died a second time. That's when he guided the plane down. One of the wings clipped some birch trees, forcing the plane to crash vertically into a creek.
 
"If you're gonna crash something, this is the plane to crash," Stix said. "It's in better shape than I am."
 
Stix said he and his passenger, who declined to provide his name, managed to get out of the plane themselves.
 
Stix suffered some scratches on his face. The passenger was not hurt.
 
"When you fly these old planes, you're bound to have some exciting moments," Stix said. "Hopefully, they don't get any more exciting than this."

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J.B. Forbes contributed information for this report.