Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI99LA088

HILLMAN, MI, USA

Aircraft #1

N3332J

Cessna 150G

Analysis

The pilot stated that the runway was snow and ice covered and that the airplane was in working condition on the four flights he flew prior to the accident flight. He said that the control settings he used were the same as during the previous flights and were good until the roll out. He said that during roll out, the airplane veered left, and he applied right rudder, more right rudder, until he applied full right rudder. Then he said he applied right brake for 300 feet. The airplane landing gear impacted a snowbank and nosed over.

Factual Information

On February 6, 1999, at 1400 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150G, N3332J, piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage on impact with a snowbank at Hillman Airport, near Hillman, Michigan. The pilot said that during that landing on runway 4 (3,400 feet X 60 feet snow and ice covered/asphalt), he applied ailerons and rudder. The airplane kept rolling left across the runway and impacted a snowbank. The airplane went over on its nose. The passenger and pilot reported no injuries. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The local flight originated at Hillman Airport approximately 20 minutes earlier. In his written statement, the pilot stated that he flew from Alpena airport to Hillman Airport for an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagle Fly In. He said he flew four earlier flights. He stated these flights had similar wind conditions, which he said were 310 degrees at 9 knots with gusts to 17 knots. He said his last flight was the same until landing. He reports the same weathervane and the same control settings were good until the wheels were down and rolling. He said that the airplane started to go left and he applied right rudder, more right rudder, and then all the right rudder. He states he applied the right brake for the last 300 feet. Then the airplane landing gear impacted the snowbank. The airplane nosed over. In an interview with the pilot, he said that he did not get a weather briefing from Flight Service at Lansing, Michigan, but he was aware of winds and lowering ceilings from monitoring the automated terminal information service at Alpena, Michigan. The local EAA chapter in Alpena, Michigan held a membership meeting after the accident. During the meeting they had reviewed lessons learned from the accident and have come up with safety guidelines for the chapter's future Young Eagle's participation.

Probable Cause and Findings

the pilot's misjudging crosswinds during landing roll. Factors were crosswinds and a snow and ice covered runway, and the snowbank.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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