This April 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: Cessna 210. Injuries: None. Location: Truckee, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: During the approach to the destination airport, the pilot obtained an airport condition report from airport personnel indicating that there was ice with a layer of snow blanketing the runway surface. The pilot aligned the airplane for landing and flared over what he thought was the normal touchdown point.
While on the landing roll the airplane encountered a snow berm at the edge of a cross runway that collapsed the nose landing gear and damaged the firewall. The pilot determined that he was actually about 50 feet north of, and parallel to, the runway.
The pilot opined that his complacency and deviation from standard aeronautical decision making practices resulted in the accident.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to identify the snow-covered runway, which resulted in an off-runway landing and subsequent collision with a berm.
For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: WPR10CA190
People who read this article also read articles on airparks, airshow, airshows, avgas, aviation fuel, aviation news, aircraft owner, avionics, buy a plane, FAA, fly-in, flying, general aviation, learn to fly, pilots, Light-Sport Aircraft, LSA, and Sport Pilot.