Incident Overview
A student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were conducting a touch-and-go landing on runway 24 at Mid State Airport. After touchdown and as the airplane's nose lowered, they observed a snow bank obstructing the runway at the intersection with runway 16/34.
Pilot Actions
The CFI directed the student to execute an immediate takeoff. The student applied full takeoff power. Shortly after lift-off, they heard a thump. The left main landing gear had impacted the snow bank and was torn away from the airplane. The impact caused substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer, left wing, and left flap.
Return and Landing
The flight continued the takeoff and proceeded to their base airport. After a fly-by for damage assessment by ground personnel, the CFI performed an emergency landing. The occupants exited the airplane without reported injuries.
Prior Inspection
The CFI reported that they had flown over Mid State Airport before landing and did not see any obstruction on the runway.
Airport Management Response
The manager of Mid State Airport stated that the individual who plowed runway 16/34 was new to the airport and unaware that runway 24 was in use. Consequently, the plowed snow was not removed from the intersecting runway. No Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) had been published regarding a closure of runway 24.