On March 22, 1992, a Piper PA-22-150 (registration N5947D) operated by David J. Payne was involved in an aviation accident near Palmer, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to stop the aircraft on an icy runway, leading to a controlled ground-loop that resulted in damage to the left wing and collapse of the main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot operating a ski-equipped aircraft realized too late that the plane would not stop on an icy runway during landing. To prevent a catastrophic overrun, the pilot intentionally ground-looped the aircraft at the end of the pavement.
What happened
During the landing roll on a snow-covered runway, the pilot recognized that the aircraft was unable to stop within the available distance due to icy conditions. As the airplane approached the end of the runway, the pilot made the decision to intentionally ground-loop the aircraft in an attempt to bring it to a halt.
The maneuver resulted in the left main ski catching on an ice ridge. This impact caused the collapse of the main landing gear and led to the left wing contacting the surface.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the primary damage was consistent with the described ground-looping event. The structural failure of the main landing gear was directly attributed to the ski striking the ice ridge at the end of the runway.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to stop the aircraft on an icy runway, leading to a controlled ground-loop that resulted in damage to the left wing and collapse of the main landing gear.