No one was hurt last week when a small plane landing at the Okotoks Air Ranch airport skidded off the runway.

During the evening of Jan. 20 a Cessna 180 touched down and appeared to be successfully stopping, but veered off the runway, struck a sign and came to a stop.

A plane skidded off the runway at the private airport in Okotoks Air Ranch community last week.

The pilot, who was the only occupant in the plane, was not injured. The plane’s landing gear, propeller and a wing were damaged.

Bryce Medd, manager of the airport, said he has heard some concern from the community and some are calling it a crash, but he said the incident was not serious and compared it to a vehicle skidding off the roadway.

“It is a minor incident,” Medd said. “That is how it is viewed by transport officials.”

Colin Gilmore is an instructor with Skywings Aviation that operates out of the Okotoks Air Ranch airport. He has been flying for four years and has never seen a plane leave the runway before, however, he said the accident won’t deter him from continuing to fly at the Okotoks airport.

“I have no concerns,” he said.

Residents should not be worried, Medd said, because the plane stayed well away from nearby residences and added the design of the airport allows plenty of room between the runway and homes.

Medd was not at the site when it occurred and did not see where the plane came to a stop and was unsure of how close the plane came to the surrounding properties.

Transport Canada and Flight Safety were notified, but Medd said he doesn’t know if they are conducting an investigation.

It is not the airport authority’s job to investigate, he added, saying they have not spoken to the pilot and do not know what caused the plane to leave the runway. The pilot was not from the community and rents a space at the Okotoks airport, he said.

At the time of the incident the runway was dry and the runway lights were working.

The plane has since been moved. The airport was closed for a day, but re-opened on Friday.

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