Mechanical failure triggers plane crash

Piper Arrow aircraft that crashed after experiencing mechanical failure while landing, St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 22, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Brad Kitchen, City of St. George, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – A plane crashed at the airport Friday afternoon after experiencing mechanical failure involving the landing gear.

Piper Arrow aircraft crashed after experiencing mechanical failure while landing, St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 22, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Brad Kitchen, St. George News
Piper Arrow aircraft crashed after experiencing mechanical failure while landing, St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 22, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Brad Kitchen, St. George News

Just before 5 p.m., a Piper Arrow, single-engine prop plane, was landing at the St. George Municipal Airport on runway 19 when the left landing gear malfunctioned and collapsed, causing the plane to skid off the runway and crash, Airport Operation Supervisor Brad Kitchen said.

Emergency responders stationed at the airport, as well as personnel from the St. George Fire Department, responded to the scene.

The plane’s occupants, the pilot and a passenger, were unharmed and declined medical attention. The same can’t be said for the plane.

Piper Arrow aircraft that crashed after experiencing mechanical failure while landing, St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 22, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Brad Kitchen, City of St. George, St. George News
Piper Arrow aircraft that crashed after experiencing mechanical failure while landing, St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 22, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Brad Kitchen, St. George News

The left landing gear snapped off the plane and that left wing looks like it will need to be replaced, Kitchen said. The plane’s nose gear was also damaged, he said.

Initial estimates of the structural damage are around $40,000.

A similar incident occurred at the airport two months ago when a twin-engine Cessna 310 also experienced landing gear failure upon landing.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by the authorities and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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