Six-seater plane lands at domestic runway

A twin-engine Bonanza Beechraft landed at the Manila domestic airport runway after failing to lock landing gears yesterday at 10:55 a.m.

The four passengers of the aircraft, including its pilot, Capt. Adax Agraviador, escaped unhurt after the plane stopped in the middle of runway 13-31.

Air Transportation Office (ATO) assistant secretary Nilo Jatico ordered all domestic flights transferred to runway 06-24 while the disabled aircraft was being repaired at the runway.

Flight operations at the nearbyNinoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were not affected.

The aircraft’s pilot will be required by the Aviation Safety Board of the ATO to explain in writing why the mishap happened. His license may be cancelled if found he was remiss in his duties.

Air traffic controllers said that the RP-C1950 took off on the same runway at 10 a.m. to conduct a test flight and remained on the air for nearly an hour before deciding to land.

Angelito Monserate, NAIA control tower supervisor, said he gave the clearance to land but Capt. Agraviador proceeded to runway 13-31 without acknowledging his instruction.

Normally, a pilot would confirm to the tower controller that the landing gears are "down and locked" before continuing his landing approach," Monserate said.

Sparks and smoke issued from the plane’s belly upon touch down. The airport emergency rescue team was alerted and within minutes several firetrucks and ambulances were at the scene.

When Monserate inquired whether the plane’s landing indicator was on green, the responding firemen reportedly replied that it’s on red, which means the pilot did not pull the lever that would lower the landing gears.

Airport mechanics, with the help of safety board officials, manually lowered the gears before the plane was towed out of the runway.