Accident Details
A private pilot with 252 hours of flight experience was attempting to land a ski-equipped Piper J-5 airplane on a frozen lake. During the landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing lift struts.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that the left main gear encountered a snow berm that was larger than anticipated. The impact overloaded the gear, causing it to fail. The pilot noted that the snow berm was not visible until the aircraft was near the touchdown point.
Recommendations
Based on the incident, the pilot recommends conducting a closer inspection of ground conditions prior to landing. Additionally, the pilot advises against landing when snow drifts are visible from 100 feet above ground level.