BEVERLY– Airport Manager Gloria Bouillon reports that Beverly Regional Airport closed briefly today after a crash landing involving a single engine plane.
At approximately 1:40 p.m. on Friday, a male student pilot in his early thirties was touching down for a landing in a Piper Cherokee and about to take off again during a “touch and go landing” when the plane began veering to the left. He realized he could not take off due to a technical issue with the aircraft, and the plane ultimately came to a stop in a grass covered safety area beyond the edge of the runway.
The airport was temporarily closed shortly after the 1:40 p.m. incident.
First responders from Beverly, Danvers and Wenham responded to the scene.
The student pilot declined medical attention at the scene. He is a student at the Beverly Flight Center, a flight school which operates out of the airport. No one else was inside the plane at the time of the landing.
As a student pilot works to achieve their pilot’s license, it is a standard practice for the student to perform solo flights as they become more proficient in order to hone their flight skills.
Upon arrival, first responders found that the aircraft was not leaking fuel and there was no fire, although the plane was missing a wheel and did sustain damage in the landing.
The airport reopened at 2:40 p.m., except for Runway 09 which remains closed while the aircraft is removed.
“I’d like to thank the first responders from Beverly, Danvers and Wenham who swiftly responded to this incident this afternoon,” Bouillon said. “Thankfully, no one was seriously injured today, and the plane was able to come to a rest in the safety area. We very briefly closed the airport, and I’d also like to thank the businesses and pilots that use our facility for their patience this afternoon as well.”
This incident remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
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