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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

February 14, 1994 · Piper PA-28R-200 · N76SA

Sandwich, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 14, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Sandwich, IL
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Tail Number
N76SA
Operator
Eagle Aircraft
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI94LA088

THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THE APPROACH AND TOUCHDOWN WERE NORMAL, BUT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRPLANE HAD MOVED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A PILE OF PLOWED ICE AND SNOW LOCATED ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE VEERED BACK INTO THE RUNWAY, AND CAME TO REST NOSED DOWN. THE PILOT STATED WHEN HE SAW THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS, HE HAD DOUBTS ABOUT LANDING SAFELY, BUT HE 'HAD LANDED ON SNOW BEFORE, SO I PRECEEDED.' HE STATED HE SHOULD NOT HAVE LANDED UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause

the private pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing on a snow and ice covered runway. Factors are the snow on the runway and the snowbank.

Full Narrative

On February 14, 1994, at 0915 central standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N76SA, a rental airplane operated on a pleasure flight, sustained substantial damage when it skidded off the left side of Runway 26 at Sandwich, Illinois and struck a snowbank. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Valparaiso, Indiana, approximately 0840. The pilot reported the approach and touchdown were normal, but immediately after landing the plane veered to the left. The pilot stated by the time he had "better control" of the airplane, it was close to the left edge of the runway, so he elected to abort the landing. During the aborted landing the nose and left main landing gear struck a pile of plowed snow and ice located along the left edge of the runway. The airplane veered back onto the runway, and came to rest nose down. The pilot reported the runway was 95% to 100% covered with packed snow and ice. He stated: "After viewing the condition of the runway at Woodlake, I had doubts about landing safely, but I had landed on snow before so I proceeded. I should have followed my first inclination and decided not to land under those conditions." The airport operator reported the runway was covered with ice and snow deposited during a recent ice storm. He indicated due to continuing cold weather they had been unable to remove the ice from the runway.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:15 CST
Nearest AirportWoodlake Landing (0nm)
Runway26
Runway Length2988 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-200
Tail NumberN76SA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEagle Aircraft
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-CIC · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200°
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point25 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data