Pilot Makes Belly Landing at Double Eagle Airport
A pilot landed a four-seat aircraft without its landing gear deployed at Albuquerque's Double Eagle Airport and was not injured.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Accidents
A pilot made an emergency belly landing at Double Eagle Airport in Albuquerque on Thursday morning after the aircraft experienced a landing gear malfunction. The pilot was the only person on board and was not injured.
Why it matters
The incident drew fire crews from Albuquerque Fire Rescue and Bernalillo County Fire Rescue, who released their units after finding no active fire or immediate hazards. It serves as a reminder of how a single mechanical failure can turn into an emergency landing even when the outcome is safe.
The incident has been turned over to airport officials at Double Eagle Airport, and no charges or further legal action have been reported. The cause of the landing gear malfunction remains unreleased.
The players
Double Eagle Airport
A general aviation airport on Albuquerque's west side, located at 7401 Atrisco NW, that handles private and charter flights.
Albuquerque Fire Rescue
The city of Albuquerque's fire and emergency medical service, which responded to the airport emergency.
The details
The pilot attempted a gear-up landing on the runway after the aircraft's landing gear failed to deploy. Arriving crews found no active fire, and responding units were released once no immediate hazards were determined.
Timeline
Thursday morning, approximately 10:36 a.m.: Fire crews were dispatched to Double Eagle Airport for the aircraft emergency.
Legal Context
Mechanical failures that force an emergency landing fall under Federal Aviation Administration oversight, which requires reporting of certain aircraft malfunctions. Incidents like this one are typically reviewed by aviation authorities to determine the cause of gear failures.
Travelers and residents near Double Eagle Airport may see emergency response activity at the field while the incident is handled by airport officials. Pilots flying light aircraft are reminded that landing gear checks before approach can prevent similar emergency landings.
The takeaway
A landing gear malfunction can be survived safely with a controlled belly landing, but pre-flight and pre-landing gear checks remain the best defense against it.
Further reading
For more local incidents, see Albuquerque Accidents.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 96.3 KKOB.
