— by Lin McNulty, Managing Editor —
Orcas Issues staff photo
Landing gear failure may be the cause of the rough touchdown of a fixed wing single engine aircraft on Saturday around 6 p.m. at Orcas Island Airport.
One of the occupants described to a witness that as they were landing “it kept floating and floating and suddenly the wing dipped and grounded it.” Everyone was OK.
Karen Key Speck photo
Although the plane was not on the tarmac itself, the runway closed down for 15 about minutes while the 1950 Piper PA-20, registered in Shoreline, WA, was moved by Orcas Towing as a safety precaution.
Next step is for an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which Port Manager Tony Simpson expects to be a superficial, cursory probe due to the nature of the incident.
Its current location certainly inspirers others to fly.
Glad everyone is OK after the incident.