Landing Gear Fails but Pilot Doesn’t

It was supposed to be a normal flight to work Monday for Robert Owen: a 21-minute glide in the air to Van Nuys, where he is an executive for a manufacturer of food cans.

But the landing gear on his 1983 Mooney failed, forcing him to head back to John Wayne Airport. His plane skidded to a halt on the runway, and Owen escaped injury.

“I was never worried about my safety,” said Owen, 57, of Laguna Niguel, the sole occupant of the plane.

As he has done almost every working day for five years, Owen, a licensed pilot for 30 years who has logged more than 3,000 flying hours, opted to fly rather than drive to work in Van Nuys.

Before his departure, Owen checked the engine and pumped in 60 gallons of fuel. The ride was smooth until he prepared to land at Van Nuys Airport. A flashing light warned him there was a problem with the left landing gear.

Owen, who also is a flying instructor, returned to John Wayne Airport and circled at 140 mph for more than two hours to get rid of fuel that weighed down the aircraft and might explode if the landing were difficult, according to Christie McDaniel, airport spokeswoman. As Owen landed at 8:30 a.m., the left wheel collapsed, and the plane swerved and hit runway lights.

“I was never afraid,” he said. “As long as you keep your composure, you’ll keeping flying the plane and you’ll land safely.”

The incident caused about $10,000 in damage.