Local
Single-engine plane makes gear-up emergency landing at Rock County Regional Airport; pilot uninjured
A 56-year-old Illinois pilot escaped injury Sunday when his single-engine aircraft lost power and touched down without landing gear at Rock County Regional Airport in Janesville, sliding to a stop without catching fire. The FAA and NTSB will lead any further investigation.
JANESVILLE, Wis. â A single-engine aircraft made an emergency landing without its landing gear at Rock County Regional Airport on Sunday after the plane experienced power problems, according to authorities.
The pilot, a 56-year-old man from Poplar Grove, Illinois, was the only person aboard and was not hurt. He brought the aircraft down on a runway, where it slid to a stop without igniting.
Air traffic at the airport was not interrupted, and the plane was removed from the runway following an initial investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified and will oversee any further investigation into what caused the power loss.
Gear-up landings, while dramatic, are a recognized emergency procedure when a plane's landing gear cannot be deployed or when a pilot must prioritize a controlled touchdown over other concerns. The absence of fire or injury in Sunday's incident reflects the kind of outcome aviation safety officials hope for in such scenarios.
Rock County Regional Airport serves as a general aviation hub for the Janesville area, handling private and recreational flights. Incidents there are relatively rare, and the quick removal of the aircraft allowed normal operations to continue.
The pilot's identity was not released. Further details about the aircraft's make and model, or the specific nature of the power issue, were not immediately available. The NTSB will determine whether a formal investigation is warranted.