Pilot Lands Safely After Gear Fails

The pilot of a single-engine plane made an emergency landing at Burbank Airport on Wednesday after his landing gear failed to deploy and another plane accident prevented him from setting down at Van Nuys Airport, authorities said.

In a moment captured by live television, the Piper Comanche PA-24-250 descended past a concrete taxiway and onto a dirt infield as a flight instructor shouted “come on” and “hold it, hold it, hold it” over an aircraft radio channel.

The pilot, identified as 23-year-old Ben Ross of Burbank, a member of the Pilot’s Co-op at Burbank Airport, ran from the plane moments after it came to a stop. He was not injured in the mishap.

Records show the plane is registered to a Glendale man and based in Burbank. The plane received damage to its propeller and underside.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells said the pilot of the Comanche first reported problems with his landing gear at 1:41 p.m., and radioed ahead to land at Van Nuys Airport.

But the pilot was told to keep circling because moments earlier a vintage biplane had skidded out of control and tipped over onto its nose during a landing at Van Nuys Airport.

The pilot of the 1942 single-engine Stearman and a passenger escaped injury, said Van Nuys Airport spokesman Richard French. There was minor damage to the plane.

Two landing strips at Van Nuys Airport were blocked for about a half hour while the aircraft was being towed to a nearby hangar, French said.

Meanwhile, Burbank Airport learned the Comanche was being diverted to land there about 2:30 p.m., said Randy Berg, Burbank Airport director of operations.

“While the airport controllers, operations and rescue personnel managed this incident, the airport continued normal operations on the other runway,” Berg said. “There were no delays.”

The Comanche, built in 1958, is registered to Kenneth G. Stickney of Glendale, according to aviation records.

Stickney, whose family was evacuated during the Glendale fire last week, was at work at the time of the accident and said he rents his plane through the 300-member Pilots Co-op. To fly his Comanche, he requires a pilot have a minimum of 250 hours flying experience, he said.

Ross had signed the plane out for a one-day trip to Las Vegas but may have headed from Burbank to Van Nuys to pick up friends when he discovered the problem with the landing gear, Stickney said.

“Stuff happens. As long as that guy walks away that’s all that matters,” Stickney said. “Given the circumstances--and I have yet to see the footage--he did an excellent job. He kept his cool and did everything he could.”

The Stearman is a vintage aircraft that had been scheduled to carry wing walkers during the Millennium Celebration at Van Nuys Airport on New Year’s Eve.

Airport officials said it was unclear whether the plane would fly for the celebration.

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This story has been edited to reflect a correction to the original published text. The correct spelling of the airplane is Stearman, not Steerman.

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