On December 24, 1990, a Cessna 152 (registration N4977P) was involved in an aviation accident near Lee's Summit, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a snow-covered runway, which resulted in the airplane drifting off the pavement and colliding with airport infrastructure. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During the landing roll on a snow-covered runway, the airplane drifted left off the pavement. The pilot attempted a go-around but lost control, sliding into grass and striking airport infrastructure.
What happened
The aircraft was operating during a landing phase when it deviated from the paved surface. According to the pilot's account, the airplane began to drift toward the left side of the runway while rolling out on the snow-covered pavement. Recognizing the deviation, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. However, the maneuver did not restore control, and the aircraft slid off the runway edge.
After leaving the paved surface, the airplane moved across adjacent grassy terrain. It eventually collided with an airport lighting control or transformer unit before coming to a complete stop. The sequence of events resulted in the aircraft being removed from the active runway environment through uncontrolled ground contact.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a snow-covered runway, which resulted in the airplane drifting off the pavement and colliding with airport infrastructure.