The landing gear of a single-engine plane failed during the landing process, forcing the pilot to make a gear up landing at the Taylor Municipal Airport Sunday, July 16.
The plane slid across the runway without the proper gear, but otherwise landed safely. No injuries were reported.
“The pilot did everything he was supposed to do,” said Stacey Batch, airport manager. “The pilot walked away with no injuries and that’s the best-case scenario. It could have potentially been worse, but it was not.”
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
Batch said the plane is not based in the airport, meaning that it does not stay there.
Essentially, the plane is a general aviation plane and is for personal use.
The pilot was doing pattern work when the gear failed. Pattern work involves pilots landing and then taking off again.
While the airport sees pattern work frequently from pilots who use the runway, Batch said the gear up landing is uncommon.
“Sometimes it just happens,” Batch said.
“Aircraft are just like vehicles that can malfunction. So, a gear up landing is not a common occurrence at the airport.”
The FAA and the Taylor Fire Department responded to the landing that occurred at about 5 p.m. With the aircraft disabled, the runway had to close.
Ultimately, a large tow truck, not associated with the airport, used a crane to pick the plane off of the runway.
“It was the pilot’s responsibility to have the aircraft removed from the runway after it is released from the FAA,” Batch said.
“It was at the pilot’s expense and they’re the one who decides who they use to have that plane removed.”
The airport is a public use airport and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Anyone can fly into the airport, as long as the aircraft can land on a 4,000 feet runway.
