On December 14, 1997, a Cessna 152 (registration N68318) was involved in an aviation accident near Waukegan, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to visually acquire the runway environment due to snow conditions, which resulted in the aircraft impacting a snowbank prior to landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A solo student pilot failed to see a snowbank at the approach end of the runway, causing the aircraft's landing gear to strike the obstruction before reaching the paved surface.
What happened
The accident involved a solo student pilot who was attempting to land on a runway covered in snow. The pilot reported that he failed to visually identify a snowbank located at the approach end of the intended runway. This failure occurred because the snowbank blended seamlessly with the surrounding snow-covered surface, making it difficult to distinguish from the ground.
Evidence from the scene indicated that the aircraft's landing gear struck a snowbank approximately three feet high. This impact occurred before the airplane made contact with the actual runway pavement. The collision with the obstruction suggests that the pilot did not have adequate visual reference to align properly with the runway threshold.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to visually acquire the runway environment due to snow conditions, which resulted in the aircraft impacting a snowbank prior to landing.
What happened in the 14 Dec 1997 Cessna 152 accident near Waukegan, IL?
A solo student pilot failed to see a snowbank at the approach end of the runway, causing the aircraft's landing gear to strike the obstruction before reaching the paved surface.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 14 Dec 1997 involved a Cessna 152, registration N68318, at Waukegan, IL.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to visually acquire the runway environment due to snow conditions, which resulted in the aircraft impacting a snowbank prior to landing.
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