Nose gear on private plane from Long Island MacArthur Airport collapses during landing in Albany, FAA says

A man and woman aboard a private flight from Long Island MacArthur Airport were transported to a hospital after the nose gear on their airplane collapsed during landing at Albany International Airport on Sunday, an official said.

The accident occurred on Runway 28 at about 1:15 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Officials did not identify the man and woman, who were the only two aboard.

Preliminary indications were that neither was injured but both were transported to St. Peter's Hospital in Albany for evaluation. It was not clear if either was admitted.

An official, citing privacy regulations, said no patient information could be released.

It was not clear if the two aboard are from Long Island.

The plane is registered to a corporation in Syosset.

An airport official said the aircraft, a Beechcraft Baron Be58, departed MacArthur in Ronkonkoma and was landing on Runway 28, an alternate runway with an approach over Troy used by private aircraft, when the nose gear collapsed. The plane "slid for about 200 feet or more," the official said, before coming to a stop. The two people aboard were taken off the plane with the assistance of responding emergency personnel.

The plane remained on the runway for about 90 minutes, before being towed to a hangar area. The official said inflatable bags were placed under the nose of the aircraft to enable it to be fitted for the tow.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”