Without using landing wheels, plane lands safely at airport
PENN TWP — A small airplane with two men aboard was forced to make an emergency landing Monday evening at the Butler County Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble, authorities said.
The single-engine 1977 Piper Cherokee Arrow touched down safely in a belly landing shortly before 7 p.m. No injuries were reported.
“I’m not an expert on planes,” said Penn Township Patrolman Jack Ripper, “but to me it looked like a textbook landing.”
Pilot Thomas Zoelle of Forward Township was praised for the wheels-up landing that closed the airport runway for more than two hours.
The Federal Aviation Administration is in the charge of the investigation, said airport manager Roy Uptegraff.
Emergency crews were called to the airport after Zoelle discovered a problem in the nose gear. He radioed AirQuest Aviation, the airport’s fixed-base operator.
In turn, the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department, Butler Ambulance Service and township police were notified.
Uptegraff, who was busy with another engagement in Pittsburgh, also was told.
Zoelle had a kind of “home-field advantage” as he readied for the emergency landing. He has been a tenant at the airport since 2010, storing his plane there, Uptegraff said.
Zoelle, who flies the plane for his business service’s company, KJTA LLC of Renfrew, could not be reached for comment.
Rescue crews of more than two dozen converged on the airport and watched the four-seat plane circle overhead several times.
The plane made its final approach, but not before the landing gear was retracted inside the aircraft. Moments later, concern turned to relief.
Ripper admitted he was impressed with Zoelle’s skill.
“It was cool, since no one got hurt,” the officer said. “It was a nice smooth landing for what he did. It looked like a glider coming down.”
Uptegraff said he planned to inspect the plane today but he did not know if the FAA would send its own inspector.
The plane was towed to its hangar and the runway was reopened about 9:10 p.m.
