Gulfstream International Vice President of Corporate Development Mickey Bowman said the 6 a.m. departure left on-time with nine passengers and two crew members. On the approach to Franklin, the pilot tried to put down the landing gear when a light signaled one of the three gears was not activating.
According to a report from DuBois-based state police, the crew told Franklin's flight control about the gear. They contacted DuBois Regional Airport and the crew was advised to return to DuBois for landing.
On the approach to DuBois, Bowman said, the plane made two passes so the ground crew could view the landing gear to affirm it was not locking into position.
The plane made an emergency landing by approaching the runway while holding the nose in the air as long as it could so the plane could be lowered to the ground at the slowest speed possible.
State police said the Beech 1900D Twin Engine Aircraft landed on the rear wheels, gently bringing the nose to the ground and sliding to a stop about 280 yards after impact.
Bowman said the plane stopped on the center line, midway down the runway and without much incident.
The passengers were deplaned with the assistance of airport fire personnel and members of the DuBois-based state police. No one on the plane sustained any injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board crash investigators were contacted and are conducting an investigation. The airplane was moved and towed to the hangar.
Falls Creek Fire and Rescue, Warsaw Township Fire Department and DuBois EMS Ambulance also assisted on scene.
Airport Manager Bob Shaffer said the airport resumed operations at 11 a.m.
The reserve crew and plane were put online and, to Bowman's knowledge, all the passengers went on the next flight out.
"This (type of incident) is very rare, but it is something we as an airline, as well as the folks at the DuBois Airport, train for. Everyone did exactly what they were supposed to do," Bowman said. "You hate to have something like this happen, but you are glad when everyone handles themselves accordingly and everything works out without incident."
Dennis Diaz of the NTSB Mid-Atlantic Regional office said that office was notified and the FAA is responding to it.
The FAA is assessing the aircraft and, as of 3 p.m. Monday, the damage was still deemed to be minor.
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency that investigates every civil aviation accident in the United States.
"It has been classified as incident, rather than an accident. We won't get involved unless the damaged is found to be greater," Diaz said.
|
|
