Light plane damaged after landing gear fails

A light plane was damaged after landing on its belly when its landing gear failed on approach to Napier Airport today.

No one aboard the aircraft was injured in the incident.

Napier police Senior Sergeant Tony Dewhirst said the Aztec six-seater, containing the pilot and one other person, notified the air control tower just after 3pm the landing gear had failed.

"They were practicing landings when the malfunction occurred," he said.

"It was a controlled emergency landing without wheels."

The plane made a forced landing on its belly at 3.25pm.

Emergency vehicles including fire appliances immediately arrived on the scene, but were not required.

- NZPA