19970113000399A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-260 · St Ignace, MI · January 13, 1997

Date: January 13, 1997 · 07:15 local
Place: St Ignace, MI
Airport: Mackinac County Airport
Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: ECEA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N33797
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI97LA051
Reported as: Piper PA32260
People aboard: 6
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,500 total350 in this make and model108 in the last 90 days

N33797Registration cancelled Jul 21, 2010 · Piper PA-32-260S/N 32-7500031 · Built 1975 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-260 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Left wing struck snow bank on left side of runway on takeoff, slid around, damage left wing, main gear, nose gear. (.4)the airplane drifted to the left during the takeoff roll. The left wing contacted a snowbank which resulted in the airplane turning around 180 degrees prior to coming to a stop. (-23) on January 13, 1997, at 0715 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-260, N33797, operated by great lakes air, inc., collided with a snowbank while taking off on runway 27 at the st. Ignace-Mackinac County Airport, st. Ignace, Michigan. The 14 CFR part 135 passenger flight was en route to Mackinac island, Michigan. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and five passengers were not injured.

As the FAA filed it

LEFT WING STRUCK SNOW BANK ON LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY ON TAKEOFF, SLID AROUND, DAMAGE LEFT WING, MAIN GEAR, NOSE GEAR. (.4)THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A SNOWBANK WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE TURNING AROUND 180 DEGREES PRIOR TO COMING TO A STOP. (-23) ON JANUARY 13, 1997, AT 0715 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-32-260, N33797, OPERATED BY GREAT LAKES AIR, INC., COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK WHILE TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 27 AT THE ST. IGNACE-MACKINAC COUNTY AIRPORT, ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN. THE 14 CFR PART 135 PASSENGER FLIGHT WAS EN ROUTE TO MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT AND FIVE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI97LA051Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSt. Ignace, MIthe pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment during the takeoff roll. A factor associated with the accident was the snowbank which the airplane contacted.Jan 13, 1997 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N33797 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19901227056349ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · St Ignace, MIDeer ran in front of landing aircraft. Added power,missed deer but struck another unseen deer on touchdown.Dec 27, 1990 · Substantial damage