Holding his dying friend`s body away from the controls, a legally blind man safely landed a small plane when the 80-year-old pilot suffered an apparent heart attack.

Charles Law, 70, of Rancho Cucamonga, who was a licensed pilot before losing most of his vision last year, took the controls of the Cessna 150 Friday and managed to ''feel'' his way to Cable Airport in Upland, police Sgt. John Cannon said Saturday.

''He`s legally blind and can barely see in front of his face, but (he)

did what seems impossible and landed that thing without crashing,'' Cannon said. ''And after landing, he intentionally steered the plane off the runway and onto the dirt.''

Law and the pilot, Harry ''Buck'' Stiteler, of San Juan Capistrano, had taken off from Cable Airport Friday, landed at Corona Municipal Airport, then moved on to Rialto Airport, had lunch and began the return flight.

The plane was on final approach to Cable Airport when Stiteler suddenly fell unconscious, police said.

''Harry, Harry,'' said Law, reaching over to the left seat of the two-seat plane and touching Stiteler`s hand.

''He was so cold, so cold,'' Law said.

The retired machinist said he never gave a second thought to taking control of the plane.

''Harry wasn`t responding,'' Law said. ''I knew I had to do what I had to do. I had to see if I could do anything for Harry.''

Law, who was too busy to use the plane`s radio, said, ''I could see enough to see the airport thresholds (white markings) and I just aimed for that.''.

Stiteler was taken to a hospital but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.