Vintage Plane Loses Wheel; Runway Closed
A runway at John Wayne Airport was closed temporarily Tuesday after a vintage aircraft lost a landing wheel as it touched down.
The World War II-era plane, called a T-6, was landing on the airport’s shorter runway around 6:10 p.m. when its left main landing wheel collapsed, airport spokeswoman Pat Ware said.
“The landing gear apparently twisted out of control,” Ware said. “The pilot was able to stop the aircraft and was not injured.”
The pilot, whose name was not released, was alone and was not injured. There was no damage to the runway.
Airport officials closed the runway for more than an hour as the plane was removed by a crane. Private and commercial planes landed on the longer runway, Ware said.
“Air traffic is not really busy at this time so things seem to be under control,” Ware said.
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