Aviation

Plane lands wheels-up at Palmer Airport; pilot uninjured

A small plane landed on its belly at the Palmer Airport Wednesday morning, with its sole occupant able to escape unharmed, according to fire officials.

Ken Barkley, deputy emergency services director at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, said the aircraft set down at the airport just after 11:30 a.m.

"It landed wheels-up, belly-down," Barkley said. "Everybody got out, no injuries — uneventful, but it did land without the landing gear down."

Palmer Fire Department Assistant Chief Todd Russell said only the pilot was onboard.

The airport's runway was temporarily closed following the incident, but Russell said it reopened by 1 p.m. after crews were able to clear the landed plane from the scene.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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