MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – An Airdrie pilot escaped injury following an emergency landing at the Olds-Didsbury Airport shortly before noon on Friday (July 17).
Ruff May, a spokesperson with the airport, located eight kilometres south of Olds, said the pilot, who was alone on the home-built plane was able to safely land but had to do so with wheels that did not extend.
“I have to figure that out,” said May, when asked why the wheels did not extend.
He said the pilot, Harvey Wreggett of Airdrie, was not injured. May said he did not know yet the extent of damage to the airplane, and why the plane had to land with its wheels not set correctly.
“I have not yet talked to him (Wreggett). I will talk to him probably on Monday,” said May.
He said the incident would not be investigated by Transport Canada. “It’s just an incident, not an accident,” he said, adding the airplane was moved into a hanger shortly after the incident, which will be probed internally by the airport.
He said the last time there was an incident at the airport was in late February.
“It was back then when an airplane struck a snow bank,” said May.