Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI94LA094

CONCORDIA, KS, USA

Aircraft #1

N7924G

CESSNA 172

Analysis

THE CFI REPORTED THE STUDENT PILOT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE, THEN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE CFI STATED BEFORE THEY COULD GET THE AIRPLANE BACK ON CENTERLINE, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK SOME DRIFTED SNOW AND PULLED THE AIRPLANE FURTHER RIGHT, OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DEEP SNOW AND NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED. THE CFI REPORTED THE WINDS WERE OUT OF 110 DEGREES AT 10 TO 13 KNOTS. THE RUNWAY IN USE WAS RUNWAY 17 (3,600' x 60', ASPHALT). POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RUNWAY WAS CLEARED OF SNOW TO A WIDTH OF 53 FEET THROUGHOUT ITS ENTIRE LENGTH.

Factual Information

On February 26, 1994, at 1600 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N7924G, operated by the Belleville Flyers, Inc. flying club, sustained substantial damage when it struck a snowbank and nosed over during the landing roll at the Blosser Municipal Airport in Concordia, Kansas. The Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) and student pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Concordia, Kansas approximately 1550. The CFI stated the student pilot flew solo from the airplane's base airport in Belleville, Kansas to Concordia, to position the airplane for the dual instructional flight. The CFI reported the student's first landing during the dual flight was normal and error free. The CFI stated on the next landing, the airplane touched down on the runway centerline, then began to veer to the right. He stated the right main landing gear struck a "...frozen snow drift that blown onto the runway from the previous days winds (30-35 mph). After contact with the snowdrift the aircraft immediately pulled to the right....the aircraft began being pulled into the thicker snow...." The airplane nosed over in the snow, and came to rest inverted. The CFI reported the winds were out of 110 degrees at 10 to 13 knots. The runway in use was Runway 17 (3,600' x 60', asphalt). Postaccident investigation revealed the runway was cleared of snow to a width of 53 feet throughout its entire length.

Probable Cause and Findings

the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action when the student pilot failed to maintain adequate directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. A related factor is the drifted snow.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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