On February 19, 1994, a Cessna 170B (registration N4685C) was involved in an aviation accident near Waupaca, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of control during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in the aircraft striking a snowdrift. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot practicing crosswind landings lost control during the landing roll on runway 12 due to gusty southwest winds, causing the aircraft to veer onto the grass and strike a snowdrift.
What happened
The pilot was conducting practice maneuvers for crosswind landings on runway 12. Weather conditions at the time included wind from the southwest at 15 knots, with gusts reaching 20 knots. During the landing roll, the aircraft lost directional control. After the pilot managed to regain control, the airplane had veered off the paved surface and was traveling parallel to the runway on the grass. The aircraft then struck a snowdrift, which caused it to nosed-over.
Findings
Contributing factors included the crosswind conditions and the presence of a snowdrift near the runway edge.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in the aircraft striking a snowdrift.