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Small plane makes safe belly landing at Palm Springs
PALM SPRINGS, Calif (AP) -- A small twin-engine plane safely landed on its belly at Palm Springs International Airport on Wednesday after developing trouble with its landing gear.
The pilot, who was the only person aboard, was not injured and damage to the Cessna 337 was minimal, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Donn Walker.
The pilot was not immediately identified. The plane was registered to a Palm Desert resident.
The incident caused a one-hour "ground stop" that prevented Palm Springs-bound planes from landing, Walker said.
The Cessna, an unusual type with twin tails and engines at the front and rear of the fuselage, took off from Palm Springs about 9:45 a.m. and the pilot immediately reported a landing gear problem.
The plane circled the airport for about an hour while communicating with mechanics in the airport tower to determine if they could figure out a solution, Walker said.
The pilot eventually chose to land with the plane's gear up at 10:45 a.m. A fire truck quickly reached the aircraft but there was no fire.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 2QD Make/Model: C337 Description: 337, M337, MC337, T337B/C/D/E/F/H (Turb
Date: 02/25/2004 Time: 1848
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Minor
LOCATION
City: PALM SPRINGS State: CA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT LANDED GEAR UP ON RWY 31L AT PALM SPRINGS REGIONAL ARPT. NO INJURIES
AND MINOR DAMAGE ARE REPORTED. PALM SPRINGS, CA
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Lucky me flies a Skymaster that will never have the gear-up problem. I'm so spoiled!
Fly SAFE!
JediI Nein
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