Chatham airplane landing under investigation

No one was injured last Saturday when an airplane hit the runway without landing gear at Chatham Municipal Airport.



According to the Chatham Police Department, a private aircraft with its landing gear retracted at the airport at approximately 12:47 p.m. on Feb. 27.

When units arrived they found a 1962 Mooney fixed wing single engine (ModelM20C), which landed on Runway 24, with its landing gear still retracted. Licensed pilot Jonathan Fitch, 71, from Sandwich performed a “belly-landing” and the aircraft suffered minor damage, police said. A 72–year-old male passenger in the plane was also uninjured. The aircraft is owned by BB Air Inc., Sandwich.

Officials advised the Federal Aviation Administration and the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission. The airport was temporarily closed until the aircraft was removed.

Weather conditions at the airport at the time of the incident were clear and cold, with winds gusting from 6 to 10 mph. Visibility was approximately 10 miles. There was no damage to the runway.

The aircraft was removed by airport staff and normal airport operations and air traffic resumed at approximately 2:33 p.m.

(Culled from capecod.wickedlocal.com)