Butler airplane makes emergency belly landing

Federal aviation officials are investigating the emergency landing of a small plane hangered at the Houma-Terrebonne Regional Airport that occurred on Jan. 21 near a Georgia airfield.

No injury was reported in connection with the incident. The plane’s sole occupant was its pilot, who was not identified in the Federal Aviation Administration’s record.

The Beech E-90 King Air plane was en route to the Decatur County Industrial Air Park near Baindbridge Ga. from Houma, records show, when the emergency landing was made. The landing gear, the report says, was still in the up position, necessitating the belly-slide.

Although the incident occurred in January, a preliminary data report did not appear on the FAA Web site until last week, allowing The Times to confirm the details.

The aircraft is registered to E90 LLC, a corporation that shares an address with Butler Aviation in Houma. Robert Butler, who owns the Butler firm, is listed as an officer of the E90 corporation.

“It is a sensitive subject and I don’t want to comment on it,” said Butler, when contacted Wednesday by The Times.

The twin-engine turbo prop, according to local reports, hit the ground without the landing gear open, causing its propellers to strike the ground. The plane then slid on its underside for an estimated 100 yards on the grass. •