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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A pair of Buffalo Airways pilots found themselves in a real-life drama Monday after they were forced to land the L-188 Electra airplane they were flying on only two wheels.

Pilots of this Buffalo Airways L-188 Electra were forced to land on two wheels Monday morning after the right landing gear failed to drop. None of the six persons on board were injured. - photos courtesy of the Department of Transportation

The four-engine turbo-prop aircraft was badly damaged after the crew was unable to drop the landing gear beneath the plane's right wing and had to land without it, causing the plane to spin off the runway on its wing and belly at the Yellowknife Airport at around 11:15 a.m. Airline president "Buffalo" Joe McBryan said there were five people on board and none were injured.

"There was nobody hurt and it was a textbook following of procedure in an emergency," said McBryan. "They were very well-trained and executed a landing that was brought on by a mechanical problem with one undercarriage and that was it."

McBryan confirmed that Capt. Ray Weber and co-pilot Sean Barry were flying the plane. Both have made appearances on History Television's Ice Pilots NWT – a reality TV show featuring Buffalo Airways, which is currently in its third season.

Earl Blacklock, manager of communications for the Department of Transportation,

said the plane attempted two touch-and-go landings which involves landing briefly on a runway without stopping, before taking off again. When the gear did not lock, the pilot decided to land on two wheels.

Blacklock explained that sometimes when a plane's gear fails to drop on one side, a pilot can land hard on the good side to deploy the malfunctioning gear.

He said the plane was forced into a spin before halting on the side of the runway.

"It made a successful landing," said Blacklock.

He disputed McBryan's account for the number of people on board and said that he observed six people through binoculars exiting the aircraft through the two emergency exits, including a television cameraman.

"There were six people on board and all were ambulatory," he said.

Blacklock said such scenarios don't happen often, but it is not uncommon, either.

"I've seen about three of these in the last four years," he said. "The main danger to those on board would have been if the plane caught fire, but that is why you have the airport firefighters standing by."

The GNWT provided two trucks – a fire engine and water truck – which were waiting on the tarmac to assist. The Yellowknife Fire Department provided three trucks and ambulances were also on the scene.

McBryan said that the important thing was that no one was injured.

"The only concern we have is that when something like this happens nobody gets hurt," he said.

He said he was still waiting estimations as to the extent of damage to the plane, but said the plane would not be written off.

"No, we are quite happy with rebuilding airplanes, but we're also just happy that we aren't rebuilding people. There was nobody hurt."

McBryan commended the crew for how they handled the plane as well as the Canadian military that offered manpower and general assistance to respond to the situation.

He noted that he also was impressed by the emergency responders on site, including the RCMP and airport staff who were quick to make themselves available.

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