On January 28, 1982, a Cessna 340A (registration N4604N) operated by Daniel C. Pennington was involved in an aviation accident near Sunriver, OR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a dual instruction takeoff on a snow-covered runway, the aircraft drifted left, struck a snowbank with its left wing, and veered off the runway, resulting in substantial damage.
Incident Overview
An instructor was providing dual instruction to a private pilot who had no prior experience in the specific multi-engine aircraft or any other multi-engine aircraft. Additionally, the private pilot had not flown within the preceding 90 days. The takeoff was initiated on Runway 18 with a wind from 210 degrees at 5 knots.
Runway Conditions
The runway was covered with packed dry snow. It contained ruts and had high snow piled along the edges. These conditions were present at the time of the incident.
Sequence of Events
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft drifted to the left. The left wing subsequently struck a snowbank. Following the wing strike, the airplane veered off the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the event.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft was substantially damaged. No further details on the specific components damaged are provided.