Pilot walks away from 'gear up landing'

(Photo by Brian Craig) Bill McGinn was able to walk away when his plane crashed at the airport in Okoboji after his electrical system began causing him problems and his landing gear failed to work properly.

The pilot of a 1960 Beachcraft Bonanza walked away from the scene of a plant crash at the Spirit Lake Airport, located in Okoboji, Sunday night at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue was dispatched to the airport at approximately 7:36 p.m. for an airplane that had crashed upon landing. Upon arrival of the department, it was determined that pilot, Bill McGinn of Council Bluff's, the only person on board the plane at the time of the accident, was not injured.

The pilot described the landing as a "gear up landing."

After discussing the incident with the pilot it was determined that the pilot was coming from the Omaha area and had planned on landing at the Spirit Lake Airport.

He told the emergency response personnel that he had been experiencing electrical problems during the flight and had lost radio communications when he was about 10 minutes from the airport. The pilot approached from the north landing facing toward the south and came in on a slow approach.

His back wheels touched down and as the front of the plane started to touch down the nose gear buckled which caused the propeller to strike the ground causing it to bend and the motor to stop. As the plane slid a short distance down the runway the left side landing gear also failed causing the left wing to lie on the ground.

The plane stopped approximately one-third of the distance down the runway from the north side. The plane is valued at $80,000-$90,000 and received an estimated$30,000-$40,000 in damage.

McGinn was examined by paramedics at the scene and denied the need for treatment or transport.

The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue remained on the scene assisting airport staff to immediately shut down the runway as well as standing by in case of fire. After receiving clearance from the FAA to remove the plane from the runway the department assisted with that procedure along with Bob's Auto Wrecker service from Milford. The department was on scene for just under three hours.

Assisting at the scene were the Okoboji Police Department, Arnolds Park Police Department, Milford Police Department, Dickinson County Sheriffs office, Dickinson County Emergency Management, Spirit Lake Airport Staff and Lakes Regional Healthcare Paramedics.