Nov 20, 2014 2 min read

The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation after a pilot landed a small plane Wednesday evening at Washington County Airport without its landing gear lowered.

A representative from FAA’s Allentown office examined the plane Thursday. A FAA spokesman said he could not provide additional information until the investigation was complete. A timeline for the investigation was not provided. The spokesman did, however, confirm there were two people in the plane when it landed. No injuries were reported.

Just before 5 p.m., a Piper Seneca II came to a skidding halt along the airport’s 9-27 runway. Witnesses at the scene said the landing gear, or wheels, were not down when the plane landed. The planned skidded several feet before coming to a stop.

The pilot’s name was not released. The plane is registered to Aero Flight LLC out of Kentucky, according to the FAA’s registry.

Craig Stephan, vice president and quality manager of Friend Aircare at the airport, said skid plates under the plane prevented extensive damage. The plane is intact. It’s engines and propellers possibly suffered roughly $60,000 in damage in the landing, Stephan said. Patch work may be required on the runway’s pavement.

The airport was shut down Wednesday for two hours following the incident. The runway was swept for debris before it was reopened.

Dylan Dietrich, a service line operator with the airport, witnessed the landing. He called it an accident.

“He said he forgot to put the landing gear down,” Dietrich said of the pilot.

Dietrich said the pilot did not radio the control center for help prior to the landing.