On December 28, 2005, a Piper PA-22 (registration N4792A) was involved in an aviation accident near Jamestown, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land on the left side of the runway to avoid ice-covered pavement, which led to a loss of directional control during rollout when the right main gear contacted ice, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and nose over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot landed on the clear left side of a runway to avoid ice-covered center sections. During rollout, contact with ice caused the aircraft to veer left and nose over.
What happened
The pilot attempted to land on a runway that presented hazardous surface conditions due to weather. The center portion of the paved surface was covered in ice, creating a slippery zone that posed a significant risk for traction loss. To mitigate this danger, the pilot deliberately chose to touch down on the left side of the 25-foot-wide runway, where the surface appeared clear of ice.
During the rollout phase after touchdown, the right main landing gear wheel made contact with the remaining ice patch. This interaction caused the aircraft to bump and lose directional stability. The airplane subsequently veered sharply to the left. As it departed the paved surface, the left main landing gear tire entered soft grass adjacent to the runway. The force of this impact and the uneven terrain caused the nose of the aircraft to collapse forward, resulting in a nosing-over incident.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to land on the left side of the runway to avoid ice-covered pavement, which led to a loss of directional control during rollout when the right main gear contacted ice, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and nose over.
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