What happened
The flight crew encountered adverse weather conditions while en route to their destination, forcing them to land on a highway the night before the incident. The following morning, the pilot attempted to depart from the same snow-covered roadway.
During the ground run for takeoff, the aircraft became difficult to control. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control as the plane accelerated down the road. The aircraft veered off the pavement and collided with a snow bank on the left side of the road. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, resulting in the aircraft nosing over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the takeoff attempt from the unpaved, snow-covered surface. Key findings included:
- The runway surface was covered with snow, reducing traction and braking effectiveness.
- Directional control was compromised during the acceleration phase.
- The aircraft struck a stationary snow bank on the left side of the road.
- The final rest position involved the aircraft nosing over.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to maintain directional control on the slippery, snow-covered highway during the takeoff roll. The decision to attempt a takeoff from such a surface under these conditions led directly to the loss of control and subsequent collision.