This February 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Connersville, Ind. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land on a runway that was covered with ice and slush. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane began veering toward the left side of the runway.
The pilot couldn’t regain control and the plane careened into a snowbank alongside the runway. The left wing’s main and aft spars were substantially damaged during the accident.
Probable cause: The failure to maintain directional control while landing on an ice- and slush-covered runway.
For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: CEN10CA118
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Dennis Reiley says
February 23, 2012 at 5:22 amI hope his fuel level was critical and he couldn’t make an alternate. Landing on ice and slush is an almost certain crash because of the extreme drag it produces. The true cause was a bad choice of runway.