What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On January 12, 2021 at approximately 17:00 EST, a Piper saratoga, N35718, privacy data omitted operated by a private pilot for a personal flight received substantial damage when it touched down prior to the approach end of runway 25 and struck a snow bank at the end of the runway.
Investigation of the aircraft found approximately ¼ inch of ice on all leading edges of the airframe. The nose gear had collapsed, right main gear was sheared off, and the left main had collapsed under the airplane.
Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private flight was being conducted under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91 with an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan filed.
The pilot stated that he was cruising at 6,000 feet and was above the clouds. He entered the clouds around 4,000 feet. Pilot stated that he shot the approach (RNAV 25) into Sparta and was on glide path and was on the precision approach path indicator (PAPI). He stated that he struck the snowbank at the approach end of the runway. The snowbank had collapsed the nose gear and the airplane slid to a stop 1,000 feet down the runway.
Weather at grand rapids (kgrr) (16 miles south, southeast of 8D4) had reported winds 190 at 7 kt, 4 miles visibility in mist, clouds overcast at 900 feet, temperature minus 1 celsius, dew point minus 3 celsius, and altimeter 30.01 inhg.
As the FAA filed it
ON JANUARY 12, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 17:00 EST, A PIPER SARATOGA, N35718, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT FOR A PERSONAL FLIGHT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN PRIOR TO THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 25 AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND APPROXIMATELY ¼ INCH OF ICE ON ALL LEADING EDGES OF THE AIRFRAME. THE NOSE GEAR HAD COLLAPSED, RIGHT MAIN GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF, AND THE LEFT MAIN HAD COLLAPSED UNDER THE AIRPLANE.
INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PRIVATE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITH AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN FILED.
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CRUISING AT 6,000 FEET AND WAS ABOVE THE CLOUDS. HE ENTERED THE CLOUDS AROUND 4,000 FEET. PILOT STATED THAT HE SHOT THE APPROACH (RNAV 25) INTO SPARTA AND WAS ON GLIDE PATH AND WAS ON THE PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATOR (PAPI). HE STATED THAT HE STRUCK THE SNOWBANK AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE SNOWBANK HAD COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR AND THE AIRPLANE SLID TO A STOP 1,000 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY.
WEATHER AT GRAND RAPIDS (KGRR) (16 MILES SOUTH, SOUTHEAST OF 8D4) HAD REPORTED WINDS 190 AT 7 KT, 4 MILES VISIBILITY IN MIST, CLOUDS OVERCAST AT 900 FEET, TEMPERATURE MINUS 1 CELSIUS, DEW POINT MINUS 3 CELSIUS, AND ALTIMETER 30.01 INHG.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N35718 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.