TOPDRESSING pilot Bruce Harding walked away unhurt from a successful crash landing at Wanganui Airport about 8.50am yesterday.
The Wanganui Aero Work pilot was working out of Raetihi but, just after take-off with a load for Tanupara Station, "felt rather than heard the left wheel partly detach from the main wing".
"I
spread the load as soon as I could and fortunately had enough fuel to get back to Wanganui. I radioed the truck driver and told him what had happened, then I rang Dad (Richmond Harding) and told him.
"He immediately alerted emergency services," Mr Harding told the Chronicle.
A topdressing pilot for 18 years, Mr Harding said he had had a few incidents over that time, but yesterday's situation was a first.
On landing, his first thought was how to move the Cresco plane (replacement cost $1.4 million) to a hangar without causing more damage. With the help of his father, brother David and Wanganui Aero Workers including former operations manager Don Judd, plus Wanganui Fire Brigade members, this was achieved.
And it was not until then that he relaxed.
"Now I am going home to build a sandpit for the kids, then I might mow the lawns," he said with a beaming smile.
Richmond Harding visibly relaxed as soon as his son came out of the plane unhurt.
"He's a very experienced pilot. While what happened was not major, things could have gone badly wrong if it was not handled properly," he told the Chronicle.
"It takes about 15 minutes to get here from Raetihi, but we told him to slow down so all the emergency services could be in place when he arrived," Richmond Harding told the Chronicle just after the crash-landing.
The Wanganui Fire Service, police and ambulance were contacted at 8.29am and were at the airport within minutes.
Airport Rd was blocked off until after the crash-landing.
"He flew over us and we could immediately see what was wrong. It was a textbook landing," Wanganui Fire Service senior firefighter Mark Wilson said.
PICTURED: Taking a much-needed drink of water, topdressing pilot Bruce Harding (left) walks away from his crash-landed aircraft with Don Judd (centre) and brother David Harding.
