Aircraft Nosed Over During Attempted Runway Use in Snow

Casualties unknown • Council, ID, US

A pilot attempted to land on a snow-covered runway that had been closed via NOTAM, resulting in the aircraft nosed over and coming to rest inverted.

What happened

Upon arriving at the airport, the pilot observed that the runway had not been recently cleared of snow. In an effort to assess the depth of the accumulation, the pilot performed a low pass over the runway from the north. Following this assessment, the pilot turned the aircraft around and approached the runway from the south, intending to use a running landing technique to "drag" the wheels through the snow.

The aircraft's wheels made contact with the snow just past the midfield point of the runway. The pilot reported that the aircraft immediately became stuck in the deep snow and was unable to recover or apply additional power. Consequently, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was not injured.

Airport personnel indicated that the airport had been closed via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) since December 27, 1992. The pilot did not contact the airport operator before the accident and stated he was unaware that the facility was officially closed.

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to attempt a landing on a snow-covered runway while unaware that the airport was closed via NOTAM, leading to the aircraft becoming stuck in deep snow and nosed over.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1993-01-07 Piper PA-18-135 accident near Council, ID?

A pilot attempted to land on a snow-covered runway that had been closed via NOTAM, resulting in the aircraft nosed over and coming to rest inverted.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1993-01-07 involved a Piper PA-18-135, registration N9841Q, operated by US State Animal Damage Cont, at Council, ID.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's decision to attempt a landing on a snow-covered runway while unaware that the airport was closed via NOTAM, leading to the aircraft becoming stuck in deep snow and nosed over.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X11753. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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