Beech A36 Bonanza, N582TM: Incident occurred February 12, 2020 at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (KAZO), Michigan

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Grand Rapids, Michigan

Aircraft landed gear up.

https://registry.faa.gov/N582TM

Date: 12-FEB-20
Time: 20:37:00Z
Regis#: N582TM
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: A36
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: KALAMAZOO
State: MICHIGAN

A Clio pilot was forced to make an emergency landing Wednesday afternoon at the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport on the state’s west side.

The incident began around 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 12th when a Beech A36 Bonanza aircraft began circling over Flint Bishop Airport.

Pat Corfman, Flint Bishop Airport director of marketing and public relations, said the pilot notified the airport’s tower because his landing gear was malfunctioning. The pilot was the only person on the plane.

Emergency personnel including Bishop’s police and fire departments, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Flint Township fire and police departments and MMR ambulances responded to the airport as well as Michigan State Police for traffic control.

The pilot, who has a private landing strip at his home, then told the tower he was going to attempt to head there, according to Corfman.

The aircraft “got so low we couldn’t hear him," Corfman added.

A short time later communication was reestablished with the pilot, who stated he was heading to the Kalamazoo airport because that’s where his mechanic resides.

Craig Williams, director for Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, said he was notified by Flint Bishop officials of the issue and the incoming aircraft.

“He landed belly up at about 3:30 p.m. with all the gear up and skidded down the runway for about 200 feet,” said Williams, a former Flint Bishop Airport director.

The runway was closed for a short period of time to allow for crews to remove the aircraft.

A check of the runway also took place prior to reopening, Williams said.

The pilot was not injured.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.mlive.com