*Update*
A quarter after 8 Friday morning...
“We got the first call that an aircraft was missing a windshield,” said Easterwood Airport Director John Happ.
A few minutes later...
“We get another call shortly after he landed that we had an A&M flying club aircraft which was a Cessna 150 that was missing its landing gear,” said Happ.
Two planes traveling 8 miles south east of Easterwood Airport collided in mid-air. The Cessna 150 belongs to a Texas A&M Flying Club, which is not affiliated with the university. It was occupied by an instructor pilot and student pilot. Although it's too early to tell, the Federal Aviation Administration says the club plane's right front tire smashed through the windshield of a single engine plane reportedly flown by a person coming to visit relatives. The visiting pilot was unscathed and managed to land his plane safely on the Easterwood tarmac.
“I imagine the Sirrus-22, without a windshield, would be cool this morning with the wind velocity that would have been coming through the air craft,” said Happ.
Meanwhile the A&M Club plane was forced to land with a missing wheel.
“He landed it initially landed it on the left main gear, then he eventually set the nose gear down and as the airplane slowed he let the right side down,” Happ said.
The student pilot told us off camera although it was a shocking experience, and she credits her instructor's experience for the safe landing.
“I would call it a miracle that considering the damage on both aircraft we didn't have any injuries. That's just a credit to both pilots and their ability,” added Happ.
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Two planes made emergency landings at Easterwood Airport Friday morning.
The Federal Aviation Administration tells News 3 a Texas A&M Flying Club plane, a two seat Cessna 152, collided in mid-air with another small plane, a four seat Sirrus-22. This happened 8 miles southeast of College Station.
That is contrary to initial reports from airport officials, who told News 3 that a wheel came off the A&M Flying Club plane in mid-flight and fell into the other plane's windshield.
One plane landed with damage to its cockpit windshield. Then, another plane made an emergency landing without one of three wheels.
The A&M Flying Club plane reportedly had a student pilot and an instructor in the cockpit. The instructor took over the controls to land the plane. The other had just a pilot on board from Austin who was on his way to the area to visit relatives.
Emergency crews at the airport responded. Both planes landed without incident and no injuries have been reported.
The A&M Flying Club is a non-profit and not affiliated with Texas A&M.
Lynn Lunsford with the FAA told News 3 that neither plane was talking to the air traffic control tower at the time of the collision. The FAA is conducting a full investigation.
Stay with News 3 as we get more information.
