A small home-built airplane made a hard landing this morning near the Hilo drag strip.

Police and fire officials said Thomas Downey, 79, of Hilo, was piloting his experimental single-engine biplane at an altitude of 2,500 feet when the engine failed. He attempted to make an emergency landing at the drag strip but landed outside the perimeter fence at about 7:10 a.m.

He suffered a minor injury to a finger and did not require hospitalization.

The airplane sustained damages to the wings and landing gear.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were notified.