Pilot brings single-engine plane down without landing gear

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
March 15, 2002
The pilot of a single-engine Beechcraft who intended to land in Meridian spent several anxious hours in the air Thursday, burning off his fuel before attempting to land without front landing hear.
The landing gear had fallen away during take-off at Mid-Delta Regional Airport in Greenville.
Pilot Doyle Mosley, of Greenville, was informed by the Greenville airport that he had lost his front landing gear, according to Peggy Turner, administrative assistant at Mid-Delta Regional.
An in-flight emergency was reported at 1:30 p.m., as the plane approached Meridian Regional Airport. Mosley radioed the tower, and asked if he could fly by and let air traffic controllers have a look. They confirmed that his landing gear was not visible.
Airport manager Tom Williams said the pilot told them he was going back to Greenville.
Mosley spent about three hours in the air, burning fuel, before landing at the Greenville airport at 5 p.m. Firefighters and other emergency personnel stood by on the runway.
Mosley landed the plane without any problems.