Student Pilot's Crosswind Landing Ends with Snowbank Strike (N8510S)

Incident Overview

The aircraft owner, who was a student pilot, was at the controls for a local flight. Another individual, a private pilot, was invited to ride along. According to the private pilot, he was unaware that the aircraft owner was not a certificated pilot.

Landing Sequence

After returning from the local flight, the owner/student pilot performed a crosswind landing on a snow-packed runway with slick patches. Following touchdown, the aircraft slid on the slippery surface. The crosswind was gusting to 15 knots.

Collision with Snowbank

During the slide, the left main landing gear struck a 3-foot high, windrowed snowbank located along the left edge of the runway. The impact with the snowbank concluded the landing roll.

Contributing Conditions No official contributing factors were determined by the source. The report notes the runway condition, crosswind gusts, and the presence of a snowbank, but does not assign causal relationships.