Release from Richmond International Airport:
At approximately 3:35pm, a Beechcraft Baron 58 reportedly suffered a landing gear collapse while landing on RWY 16 at Richmond International Airport. The airport reports NO INJURIES onboard the aircraft, no significant damage to the runway.
With the incident and the previous closure of RWY 2/20 for maintenance, RIC is closed for large jet operations until approximately 5:45pm. Recovery and removal operations are underway, and the FAA's Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), based at RIC, is on the scene investigating the incident. A third runway, RWY 7/25 (5326'), suitable for small aircraft, remains open. Appropriate NOTAMs have been issued.
Per manufacturer information, the Beechcraft Baron 58 is a twin-engine piston aircraft with seating for six.
The location of the landing site is close to the infield firehouse at the airport, and the incident was first observed by members of RIC's Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team.
A twin-engine plane made a belly landing Monday afternoon at Richmond International Airport after its landing gear apparently failed, but the pilot escaped injury.
The incident forced airport officials to close Runway 16, the airport’s longest runway at 9,000 feet. RIC’s second commercial runway was already closed for maintenance, said RIC spokesman Troy Bell.
“We have three runways and two of them are for commercial operations and larger jets,” Bell explained. “And both of those are closed. There is a third runaway that remains open for small aircraft. But it is too small for most commercial operators.”
Bell said larger aircraft could be diverted to another airport, put into a holding pattern until repairs are made to the runway, or held at their point of departure. Smaller aircraft can land at the airport's smaller runway, he said.
Officials hope to have Runway 16 back in operation by 5:45 p.m.
"The timing is not good,” Bell said. “This is typically a point in the day when Richmond is pretty busy.”
Authorities were alerted at 3:35 p.m. that the twin-engine, piston-driven Baron 58 aircraft made a belly landing not far from RIC’s firehouse, Bell said. There was no ensuing crash or fire, he said.
The pilot did not radio any problems with the aircraft before landing.
“Aside from the fact that there was no landing gear to assist the aircraft, it was a rather uneventful landing,” he said.
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