On November 16, 1985, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2601G) operated by Mt. Flyers Aero Club was involved in an aviation accident near Ft. Collins, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to avoid large chunks of snow on the runway during takeoff, which caused the aircraft to veer off the paved surface and strike a snow berm, resulting in collapse of the left main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft veered left and struck a snow berm during an aborted takeoff roll, causing the left main landing gear to collapse after contacting accumulated snow on the runway.
What happened
The aircraft was operating during a takeoff roll when it encountered significant obstructions on the runway surface. The pilot reported spotting large chunks of snow approximately midway down the runway. Recognizing the hazard, the pilot initiated an abort sequence to stop the aircraft; however, avoiding the obstruction proved impossible given the remaining distance.
As the aircraft decelerated, the left landing gear made contact with the accumulated snow. This impact caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the left. The uncontrolled deviation led the aircraft into a snow berm located adjacent to the runway. The force of the collision with the berm resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site and the aircraft revealed that the primary damage was concentrated on the left side of the airframe, consistent with the pilot's account of veering into a snow berm. The structural failure of the left main landing gear was directly linked to the impact with the obstruction on the ground.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to avoid large chunks of snow on the runway during takeoff, which caused the aircraft to veer off the paved surface and strike a snow berm, resulting in collapse of the left main landing gear.