A 77-year-old man escaped injury Tuesday after the small plane he was piloting landed on its belly at the Minden Tahoe Airport, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office reports.
East Fork Fire and Paramedics along with the Douglas County deputies responded at to the airport 12:28 pm after the Piper Camanche 400 came into land at the airport.
The owner and pilot Alfred Asti, the sole occupant, stated his approach was high and as the plane came into contact with the ground, the plane bounced. It is believed Asti is from Carson City.
The plane, now airborne again, came into contact with the ground and bounced again at which time the landing gear folded up and the plane collapsed to the ground sliding off the runway, said Douglas County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Pat Brooks.