On January 29, 1993, a Piper PA-22 (registration N2375P) operated by Miller, Mitchel A. was involved in an aviation accident near South St. Paul, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing due to patchy ice on the runway and a gusting crosswind, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot lost directional control during landing on a runway with patchy ice and a crosswind, causing the aircraft to veer off and nose over.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a landing approach on runway 16 when weather conditions presented significant challenges. A crosswind from 210 degrees was reported at 8 knots, with gusts reaching 12 knots. As the aircraft touched down, the pilot noted that the runway surface was covered in patchy ice. Immediately upon contact, a sudden gust of wind pushed the airplane off the centerline of the runway. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control but was unable to keep the aircraft aligned with the runway. Consequently, the airplane departed the paved surface and nosed over.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the loss of directional control during the landing roll and the presence of patchy ice on the runway surface. The crosswind conditions further complicated the pilot's ability to maintain alignment with the runway centerline after touchdown.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing due to patchy ice on the runway and a gusting crosswind, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
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