Small plane makes Redmond Airport ‘belly landing’ due to landing gear problem; pilot reported unhurt
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A pilot who reported landing-gear issues was uninjured in an emergency “belly landing” of a small plane at the Redmond Airport Monday afternoon, officials said.
The pilot of a single-engine Cessna 177 reported the rear landing gear issue shortly before 12:30 p.m. Redmond Fire & Rescue Fire Marshal Tom Mooney said. Flight Aware indicated the plane had taken off from Redmond late Monday morning.
Redmond Fire’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle and crew were called out on alert status while the plane circled overhead for fly-bys, so people on the ground could observe the landing gear’s status, Airport Director Zachary Bass said.
“In this case, it did not look great,” Bass said, so they proceeded to do the belly landing shortly before 1 p.m.
While such landings are technically called a “controlled crash,” Bass said, “Actually, it was pretty much picture-perfect, for what it was.”
As is also common procedure, Redmond Airport’s landings and departures were put on hold for a time until the situation was resolved, Bass added.
Mooney said the plane was not seriously damaged in the belly landing. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
