The pilot reported that, during landing at a remote site in Seward, Alaska, the Piper PA22 veered right shortly after touchdown, as he felt a “strong left crosswind” push the airplane to the right.
He applied full power to go around, but the airplane continued right, and the main landing gear hit a snowbank and the left wing hit terrain.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The automated weather observation station located on an airport about 13 nm away reported that, about 30 minutes before and after the accident, the wind was 360° at 6 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in impact with a snowbank.
Very little wind suggests some surface condition (snow/gravel/high grass) that created the drag pulling this plane right and also preventing the attempted go-around. Off-airport unprepared sites are obviously risky by design.
This April 2019 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.
I have a dumb question. The TAF for a Class C airport is good for what distance from that airport? What about the ATIS? What area does it cover?
Two airports I fly between are about 12NM apart and I have never heard their automated reporting agree on wind direction and speed except when calm. And this is in the midwest with nothing greater than 50′ tall (terrain wise) between them.
So why do we care what that automated weather reporting system said for an airport 13 NM away?
Next, the pilot attempted a go around because he encountered a gust of wind that pushed him sideways.
So, here is the question — If one does not have an union backing them, or otherwise is not a revenue flight, should one even attempt to go around since that attempt is only going to add energy, which then makes it more likely to have injury and/or damage? And the NTSB is going to find pilot error regardless.
The reason why I ask this is the NTSB keeps giving Part 91 pilots this rubber stamp: “Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control….which resulted in…”
Note that it is pretty difficult to maintain directional control when one collides with snow, with just a wheel.
So what are we to learn from these types of incidents other than the NTSB doesn’t like non-union pilots?