Pilot Matt Jackson Had Just Finished A Qualifying Run, Was Not Injured

An Unlimited Class airplane that had just finished a qualifying run at Reno made what was described as a "hard landing" when its landing gear apparently collapsed Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately, pilot Matt Jackson of Van Nuys, CA, was not injured in the incident.

Jackson had just finished a qualifying run on the 8.1 mile course in his modified Hawker Sea Fury airplane. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that on his approach to landing, he became concerned about his landing gear and issued a "mayday" call. Reno Air Races spokeswoman Valerie Miller-Moore told the paper that the landing initially appeared to be solid, but then the right gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway. He was reportedly moving pretty slowly when the gear folded, and was able to walk away from the incident uninjured. He was on site when his ground crew came with a crane to lift up the airplane and move it away from the runway.

The incident only briefly slowed down qualifying on Tuesday, the opening day of the Reno Air Races. According to the race website, there are 22 airplanes registered in the Unlimited Class for 2012. Racing is planned through the weekend.

FMI: www.airrace.org