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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

March 4, 1995 · Piper PA-22-108 · N5554Z

Belfast, ME

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 4, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Belfast, ME
Aircraft
Piper PA-22-108
Tail Number
N5554Z
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO95LA030

THE STUDENT PILOT REPORT THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 15, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED LEFT OF THE RUNWAY'S CENTERLINE. THE STUDENT PILOT DECIDED TO GO AROUND. DURING THE GO AROUND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FOUR FOOT SNOWBANK WHICH RAN ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WIND HAD BEEN OUT OF THE SOUTH AT ABOUT 8 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A GUST OUT OF THE WEST.

NTSB Probable Cause

the student pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions. A related factor was the presence of high snowbanks along the sides of the runway.

Full Narrative

On Saturday, March 4, 1995, at 1550 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-22-108, N5554Z, collided with a snow bank during an attempted go around over runway 15 at the Belfast Municipal Airport near Belfast, Maine. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight. The solo instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported that the airplane "...was on final and about to touchdown in middle of runway. All of a sudden I was close to the left side of the runway and realized I was having problems. I was concerned that my wing would catch the 4' [foot tall] snow drift (from plowing) so I decided to make a go around and try again. Either my wing tip or nose wheel caught the 4' [foot tall] snow pile and flipped me over." The student pilot estimated the winds at the time of the accident to be "...approximately 8 knots from the south." He wrote, "Must have had a gust from [the] west." The pilot also reported that there were four foot snow drifts running along both sides of the runway. The student pilot wrote under the Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section on his accident report, "It would not have happened if snow banks were not so high."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:50 EST
Nearest AirportBelfast Municiple (0nm)
Runway15
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-22-108
Tail NumberN5554Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-C1B · Reciprocating · 108
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 12 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 25 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data