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Video: Landing without a wheel

By Ben Sclair · September 6, 2021 ·

There is little doubt in the value of using video as a debriefing tool.

After a touch and go at a turf runway, an instructor and student receive a radio transmission telling them their left landing gear/wheel was missing.

“Looks like we lost a wheel,” says the instructor. “Not so good, huh?” the student replies.

The pair ultimately make a successful emergency landing at the airport in Basel, Switzerland.

Cool heads ultimately prevailed.

About Ben Sclair

Ben Sclair is the Publisher of General Aviation News, a pilot, husband to Deb and dad to Zenith, Brenna, and Jack. Oh, and a staunch supporter of general aviation.

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Comments

  1. Dr Frank L RICE says

    September 11, 2021 at 8:49 am

    Great Job, to Quote A great Pilot Chuck Yeager, “When you can walk away from any landings, it is a good one. ” great job keeping calm and going through the procedures for an emergency landing.
    Dr Frank Lowell Rice.

  2. Alan says

    September 7, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    I can appreciate how calm and collected this instructor and student were. When I first checked out in a complex airplane in 1979 I was flying a nearly New Piper arrow that had a finicky right main. I had to shake it down once but two other pilots were forced to land with that wheel up. They did finally determine the cause and repair it.

    Kudos to both of them because I understand how composure is so important!

  3. Cary+Alburn says

    September 7, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    I have always believed that one of the signs of a good pilot/good instructor is the ability to maintain composure when things are going south. Staying cool helps passengers, and especially student pilots, stay cool too. Very impressive!

  4. David+B.+Hill says

    September 7, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    This sounded as if it was simply part of the curriculum: “Today, we will land without a wheel.”

    • Dr Frank L RICE says

      September 11, 2021 at 8:51 am

      Yes tgey kept calm and tgrough procedures excellent Job.

  5. Howie Gretencord says

    September 7, 2021 at 6:58 am

    Fabulous job well done. Tribute to cool heads and great flying. It is why I love aviation so much.

  6. TAMBORIJN F-104 says

    September 7, 2021 at 5:45 am

    CHECK SEAT BELTS AND STRAPS TIGHT.

  7. mark says

    September 6, 2021 at 9:41 pm

    Basically turned an emergency into a virtual non-event. Having that pylon under the wing helped…won’t take a huge amount of work…even saved the engine and prop.

  8. Gary Evans says

    September 6, 2021 at 9:54 am

    This is a great example of how keeping cool in an emergency situation, thinking through the event, and generating an optimal plan can lead to an excellent outcome. My hat is off to these two excellent pilots. I’m so thankful they got through this without injury. Well done gentlemen!

    • Michael Weber says

      September 6, 2021 at 12:13 pm

      Thank you very much. I was lucky to have such a competent and cool student pilot on my side. Regards Michael Weber

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