The accident happened when the pilot attempted to land the Piper Tri-Pacer on the plowed surface of an icy runway in Baraga, Mich.
As he was taxiing, he lost directional control and the airplane slid nose-first into a snow bank on the edge of the runway.
The nose gear collapsed, and the engine mount and forward fuselage were substantially damaged.
The NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident to be the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during taxi.
NTSB Identification: CEN13CA185
This March 2013 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.
