West Ossipee, NH, USA
N2634A
Piper PA-20
The pilot made a night landing on a runway covered with compacted snow. Winds were estimated to be about 20 degrees from the right. The touchdown was normal; however, during the rollout, the pilot lost visual reference to the runway lights due to snow banks along both sides of the runway. The airplane drifted left and subsequently impacted the snow bank on the left side of the runway.
On February 11, 2004, at 1835 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-20, N2634A, was substantially damaged during a landing at Windsock Village Airport (NH69), West Ossipee, New Hampshire. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight, which departed Great Barrington Airport (GBR), Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he landed on runway 33, which was covered with compacted snow at the time. Winds were estimated to be from 350 degrees at 10 to 15 knots. The touchdown was normal; however, during the landing rollout, the pilot lost visual reference to the runway lights due to snow banks along both sides of the runway. The airplane drifted left, and subsequently impacted the snow bank on the left side of the runway.
The pilot's inability to maintain runway alignment during the landing rollout. Factors included the night lighting conditions and the snow banks that prevented visual reference to the runway lights.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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