Pilot, 82, Suffers Only Bruised Ego in Hard Landing at Ramona Airport

Bob Lindsay is a former Navy pilot. Flown for more than 50 years.  So when approached about his hard landing of an experimental plane Wednesday at the Ramona Airport, he didn't mince words.

"I forgot to put the [landing] gear down. Simple as that," said Lindsay, 82.

Lindsay, a Coronado resident, walked away unscathed from the landing that drew emergency vehicles just before noon.

He said he's been flying the small plane, called a Europa, for a dozen years and was practicing landings at the airport when he brought the craft down on its belly at 50 mph or perhaps slower.

Despite his lack of injuries, he was quick to praise the Ramona Airport and Cruiseair manager who rushed to his aid, likening the airport to a small community of helpful neighbors.

His bigger concern was how to get his crippled craft beck home to its normal port of Gillespie Field in El Cajon.

Lindsay called his wife to let her know he was fine.

More details to come.