This pilot did not let a lack of landing gear get in the way of a picture-perfect landing – walking away from his belly-down plane as if nothing happened.
Anthony Capozzi reported that he couldn’t deploy the 1966 Piper PA30’s wheels to land Monday afternoon at the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport in Maryland, NBC Washington reported.
Capozzi circled the airport for 90 minutes to burn fuel before making the emergency landing, which was aired live from a hovering chopper.
Following belly-landing protocol, he appears to shut off the two engines seconds before touchdown to stop fuel flow and reduce the risk of a fire.
After the aircraft comes to a stop, the sole occupant climbs out of the cockpit, looks over the plane and walks away hands in pocket as emergency crews arrive.
The damage to the plane appeared to be limited to its underside, according to the county sheriff’s office, the Washington Post reported.
It was not immediately known why the landing gear failed to deploy.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.


