A U.S. Marine Corps T-34C training plane landing gear collapsed during landing at Big Bear Airport March 27.
No injuries were reported nor fuel or other leaks. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. and temporarily closed the airport until the plane was cleared from the runway.
The plane, which was flying out of the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego, was attempting to land on runway 26. Big Bear Airport General Manager Pete Gwaltney said that the pilots told him that when they attempted to land a gust of wind came in forcing them off the runway. When the plane lowered for its second approach the nose landing gear hit the runway first causing it to collapse and become disabled.
The plane was flown by two Marine pilots who declined to comment.
Gwaltney said that once the plane was disabled on the runway he contacted the Federal Aviation Administration to put out a notice regarding the runway closure. He also contacted the National Transit Safety Board, which turned the incident over to the military, according to Gwaltney. The airport crew used recovery equipment to transport the plane off of the runway into a nearby hangar for temporary storage after getting clearance from the military. The runway was reopened at approximately 4:15 p.m.
Gwaltney said he expects the Marines to be back at the airport March 28 to begin an investigation and repair the plane.
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Photo courtesy of Donald Shade
