Photo courtesy of Google Images

A Piper Arrow PA-28R, similar to the one pictured above, landed without landing gear at the Mount Airy-Surry County Airport Tuesday afternoon. The plane is owned by Premier Property, LLC, and officials are declining to identify the pilot.

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While local officials are remaining closed-lipped about the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed that a plane landed at the Mount Airy-Surry County Airport without landing gear Tuesday afternoon, skidding down the runway on its belly.

“Yesterday at about 3 p.m., Eastern time, a Piper PA-28R aircraft landed gear up,” said Kathleen Bergen of the FAA’s Atlanta office. “There was one person on board and no injuries were reported. We are investigating out of the Greensboro FAA office.”

The 1968 model, single-engine, fixed-wing plane, also known as a Piper Arrow, was listed on the FAA’s registry as belonging to Premier Property LLC, of State Road.

It is unclear whether the pilot failed to deploy the landing gear or whether there was a mechanical malfunction.

Officials at the company declined to identify the pilot or even confirm the mishap occurred.

A person who only gave the name “Jamie” said there would be no information out of her office.

“We will not be making a comment. Thank you,” she said before hanging up.

Questions about the incident arose after it was discovered that officials at the Holly Springs airport declined assistance from local emergency services.

“They didn’t want our response,” said county Emergency Services Director John Shelton. “They said there was an incident, but everything was OK and they didn’t need our help.”

Shelton said the local 911 center was notified of the incident.

“They (911 center staff) called down there and whoever was there with the airport said our services weren’t needed,” he said.

Attempts to contact airport manager John Spane were also unsuccessful, with a message returned by an employee of the airport who wouldn’t give his name.

“Mr. Spane said he was feeling under the weather and is not going to be able to speak with you,” he said succinctly.

But Airport Authority member John Springthorpe said the issue could be less about a cover-up of the incident and more about simple embarrassment.

“(Landing without landing gear) is one of the more embarrassing things that can happen to a pilot, so that may be why no one wants to talk about it,” he said.

Springthorpe said that despite what could be considerable damage to the aircraft, rarely does a gear-free landing cause injury.

“It isn’t considered to be an accident, per se, by the FAA,” he said. “That may sound unusual, but while it’s extremely embarrassing and expensive, it rarely causes injuries to people on board.

“It tears up the propeller and rips up the bottom of the plane, but it doesn’t often cause injuries.”

Reach Keith Strange at kstrange@civitasmedia.com or 719-1929.