On February 22, 2000, a Piper PA-28-181 (registration N8366N) operated by Jon Eifert was involved in an aviation accident near Center Harbor, NH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance while maneuvering to avoid a snowmobile, resulting in an impact with the lake surface. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A light aircraft collided with a snow-covered lake surface while attempting to descend after avoiding a snowmobile during a low-altitude scenic tour.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a low-altitude scenic flight over a body of water. While flying approximately 100 feet above ground level, the pilot initiated a climb to avoid a snowmobile that had entered the flight path. After the vehicle passed beneath the aircraft, the pilot attempted to return to the original altitude. The pilot believed the aircraft was still at 100 feet AGL; however, the airplane impacted the snow-covered surface of the lake.
Findings
The accident occurred during a scenic tour operation. The primary factor contributing to the event was the pilot's loss of situational awareness regarding altitude relative to the terrain while maneuvering to avoid ground traffic.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance while maneuvering to avoid a snowmobile, resulting in an impact with the lake surface.
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