Post by Piston Paul on Dec 8, 2008 7:35:39 GMT -5
From our special reporter:
St. Maarten, Nov 07.
A DC-3 cargo plane from Four Star Aviation suffered a gear collapse during landing on Juliana airport today. The classic Douglas arrived from St. Croix on a routine cargo flight, but during landing things went wrong. The right gear collapsed and the aircraft swung from the runway into the grass.
Fortunately, nobody was hurt and the shaken (but not stirred) crew could easily exite the stricken DC-3. Due to the event, the airport was closed for one hour, diverting incoming- and delaying departing traffic.
After initial inspection by a technical crew, it is expected that the slightly damaged DC-3 can be repaired and flown again. Four Star operates a fleet of six classic DC-3 Dakota's out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Below some pictures of the event.
N135FS coming in over Maho Beach. Note the slightly overcentered right landing gear, which indicates the strut being unlocked. (all pictures taken by tourists.)
Here things went wrong... Luckily, no fire broke out during the slide.
Coming to a full stop in the grass with bent propellor and engines already stopped by the crew.
Since the DC-3 was well away of the runway, the airport could be re-opened after an hour.
St. Maarten, Nov 07.
A DC-3 cargo plane from Four Star Aviation suffered a gear collapse during landing on Juliana airport today. The classic Douglas arrived from St. Croix on a routine cargo flight, but during landing things went wrong. The right gear collapsed and the aircraft swung from the runway into the grass.
Fortunately, nobody was hurt and the shaken (but not stirred) crew could easily exite the stricken DC-3. Due to the event, the airport was closed for one hour, diverting incoming- and delaying departing traffic.
After initial inspection by a technical crew, it is expected that the slightly damaged DC-3 can be repaired and flown again. Four Star operates a fleet of six classic DC-3 Dakota's out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Below some pictures of the event.
N135FS coming in over Maho Beach. Note the slightly overcentered right landing gear, which indicates the strut being unlocked. (all pictures taken by tourists.)
Here things went wrong... Luckily, no fire broke out during the slide.
Coming to a full stop in the grass with bent propellor and engines already stopped by the crew.
Since the DC-3 was well away of the runway, the airport could be re-opened after an hour.