What happened
During a student training flight, the instructor and student overflew the accident airport while searching for a suitable landing area. The runway conditions at the time included areas covered in snow and sections that had been plowed. Additionally, there were patches of ice present on the runway surface, along with snow berms of varying heights adjacent to the runway.
The student performed a smooth landing; however, the aircraft subsequently lost directional control upon encountering an icy portion of the runway. Although the instructor took control of the aircraft, they were unable to arrest the resulting skid. During the excursion, the left wing of the aircraft struck a windsock pole. Following this impact, the airplane spun to the left, causing the right elevator to strike a snow berm.
Findings
- The runway surface contained patches of ice and varying amounts of snow.
- Snow berms were present adjacent to the runway edges.