A small single-engine plane pulled off a tense but controlled belly landing at Athens-Ben Epps Airport on Saturday after the pilot reported a landing-gear malfunction. Two people were aboard and walked away without injuries, and ground crews quickly contained the incident without fire. Airport operations were briefly disrupted while responders secured the aircraft and inspected the runway.
Emergency Touchdown After Gear Refused To Drop
According to Atlanta News First, the pilot radioed the tower to report that the landing gear would not deploy, then set up for a controlled gear-up landing on the runway. Emergency crews positioned themselves along the pavement as a precaution, ready for the worst while hoping for the best.
The aircraft slid in on its belly and came to a stop on the runway. Atlanta News First reports that both people on board escaped without injuries, no fire broke out and responders were able to secure the scene relatively quickly. Officials said the exact cause of the landing-gear issue has not yet been confirmed.
Why Pilots Sometimes Choose Ben Epps
Athens-Ben Epps is one of the few certificated commercial airports in the region, featuring a 6,122-foot primary runway, an air traffic control tower and on-field aircraft rescue and firefighting capability. Those features make it a natural diversion option for pilots facing landing troubles, according to Athens-Clarke County.
Airport leaders maintain Ben Epps as a full-service general aviation facility, which gives responders room and resources to manage gear-up landings safely. Its runway length, location and emergency equipment often tip the scales in favor of diverting there instead of risking an off-field landing in an emergency.
Not The First Gear-Up At The Field
This weekend’s scare fits into a pattern the airport has seen before. In January 2022, a Piper Navajo diverted to Ben Epps after its landing gear failed to extend and completed a belly landing with no injuries, according to Aviation Pros.
At the time, airport directors praised the pilot’s handling of the situation and pointed to Ben Epps’ longer runway and on-site emergency resources as key reasons the outcome was so clean. Those earlier incidents highlight how crews train and position equipment to limit damage and protect people when mechanical systems fail.
Investigation Underway
Officials told Atlanta News First that the cause of Saturday’s landing-gear malfunction remains under investigation. Agencies involved in the response are working to pinpoint what went wrong.
By the time crews wrapped up inspections and cleared the runway, airport operations were returning to normal. The aircraft took damage to its underside but did not catch fire, Atlanta News First reports. Authorities have not yet released the plane’s registration or operator information, and further updates are expected as investigators review maintenance records and flight data.
