This case reminded me of the account X-15 pilot Bob Rushworth gave about a somewhat similar emergency on one of his missions. Aerodynamic heating stretched the fuselage, causing it to pull an uplock release cable, and the landing gear came out at a high Mach number. Fortunately, the air was thin at that altitude and the vehicle wasn't damaged, but the additional drag caused an awesome rate of descent. He was able to reach an alternate lakebed for a safe landing.