On July 16, 1967, a twin-engine charter plane skidded to a stop at the Grand Forks International Airport after its landing gear collapsed during landing. Fortunately, all nine individuals on board—eight men and one boy—escaped without injury.
The incident occurred around 15:30 local time as the aircraft was preparing to land after returning from a fishing trip in Canada. The plane was operated by Crystal Shamrock Inc., a charter flight service based in Minneapolis, and was landing for customs inspection.
As the plane approached the southbound runway, the landing gear failed, causing the aircraft to skid along its belly. Smoke quickly filled the cockpit, prompting airport personnel to rush to the scene equipped with fire extinguishers. Thankfully, the smoke cleared by the time they arrived, and no fire ensued.
Norman Midboe, the airport manager, confirmed that the pilot was Lee Gilligan, a veteran commercial pilot from Minneapolis. Witnesses reported that the passengers exited the aircraft hurriedly, retrieving their belongings as the cockpit filled with smoke. While the identities of the eight passengers were not released, their safety remained a priority throughout the incident.
Following the emergency landing, the passengers were transferred to two special charter flights to continue their journey. Midboe praised the assistance from the Grand Forks Air Force Base, specifically highlighting the support from Maj. Donald L. Peck, the Transport Squadron commander, who coordinated the lifting of the damaged aircraft from the runway using a large crane.
Damage to the aircraft included bent propellers and scraping on the bottom, in addition to the collapsed landing gear. An investigation into the cause of the landing gear failure is currently ongoing.
This event serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures in aviation and the quick response of airport personnel in emergencies.
