facebook-pixel

A pilot escapes unharmed after faulty landing gear sent his plane flipping off of the runway of a small Utah airport

The pilot of a single-engine plane was uninjured after his landing gear failed while hitting the runway of a rural airport in northern Utah, sending the plane careening off course at about 60 mph.

The pilot was landing at Mountain Green Airport in Morgan County when the landing gear “collapsed,” sending the plane skidding out of control, said Mountain Green Fire Chief Brian Brendel.

The plane struck a berm near the runway and flipped over, Brendel said.

The pilot managed to pull himself out of the plane and turned off the fuel, preventing a fire or a large spill, Brendel said. He was shaken up by the perilously close call, but uninjured, Brendel said.

"We were very fortunate we didn't have something more serious happen," Brendel said. "I told him he shouldn't buy any more lottery tickets, ever."

The Federal Aviation Authority was en route to the airport late Tuesday to investigate the crash, Brendel said.

Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.