# Incident 20230228004519I: Piper PA-28, Austin, MN, February 28, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 28, 2023, 19:10 local time
- Place: Austin, MN
- Airport: Austin Municipal
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.6626° N, 92.9329° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at AUSTIN MUNI (AUM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6626&lon=-92.9329&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5263W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5263W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28 (registry code 7102801, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 456 total, 280 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230228004519I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023 THE CFI (PIC) WAS ON A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM KRST TO KMCW TO RETURN TO THE HOME AIRPORT IN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ (PA-28).  THERE WAS A STUDENT AT THE CONTROLS IN THE LEFT SEAT AND A SECOND STUDENT OBSERVING FROM THE BACK SEAT.  THE CFI RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THE EVENING AT APPROXIMATELY 1550 CENTRAL TIME.  THE SAME SET OF INDIVIDUALS HAD ARRIVED AT KRST AT APPROXIMATELY 1655 CENTRAL TIME FROM KMCW.  THE CFI AND STUDENTS HAD DINNER AND RETURNED TO KRST. THEY DEPARTED AT 1858 FOR KMCW.  PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TO KMCW, THE CFI CHECKED THE TAF AND RADAR TO MAKE A GO/NO-GO DECISION. APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES INTO THE DIRECT FLIGHT TO KMCW, THEY ENTERED AN AREA OF MODERATE SNOW WITH RESTRICTED VISIBILITY.  THE CFI TOOK CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT AND TURNED ON THE AUTOPILOT.  SHORTLY AFTER, THE AIRCRAFT GAVE AN AIRSPEED ERROR ANNUNCIATION.  THE AIRSPEED WAS INDICATING 29 KNOTS.  THE CFI PITCHED DOWN TO INCREASE SPEED AND THE AIRSPEED DROPPED TO ZERO.  THE CFI RECOGNIZED THIS AS A BLOCKED PITOT TUBE AND ACTIVATED THE PITOT HEAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PLACARDED AS INOPERATIVE.  AIRSPEED RETURNED DURING THE DESCENT.  THE CFI NOTED THAT KAUM WAS VERY CLOSE TO THEM AND DIVERTED THERE. THE AWOS AT KAUM WAS 1 SM VISIBILITY, 6,000’ OVERCAST AND 2°C. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ACTUAL WEATHER WAS REPORTING WINDS 130@5, 1 SM VISIBILITY, SNOW AND 500' CEILINGS.  TWO APPROACHES WERE ATTEMPTED TO RUNWAY 35 AT KAUM.  THE FIRST ONE WAS TOO HIGH AND A GO-AROUND WAS EXECUTED.  THE SECOND ONE WAS STABILIZED. IMMEDIATELY UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT SLID AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK.  THE AIRCRAFT TURNED 180° AND CAME TO REST FACING SOUTH.  ADDITIONALLY, THE CFI STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER LANDED ON A CONTAMINATED RUNWAY AND HE ESTIMATED ¼ TO ½ INCH OF SNOW WAS ON THE RUNWAY. THIS AIRCRAFT IS EQUIPPED WITH RUDDER PEDALS WITHOUT BRAKES. THE ONLY BRAKE WAS A HAND BRAKE/PARKING BRAKE.

## Other reports on N5263W (3)

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

- [Accident 20241227018819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241227018819A), Dec 27, 2024: Piper PA-28 (N5263W), New Braunfels, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft impacted westmeyer road approximately 3,450 feet from runway 17 thresh hold at baz. It then slid approximately 125 feet through an old fence line…
- [Incident 20000610027859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000610027859I), Jun 10, 2000: Piper PA28* (N5263W), Alliance, OH, Minor damage. (-23)A/c landed short of runway 27 in wet, tall grass area apx 1200' from end of runway at Barber field (2D1) pilot tried to power/taxi through mud until a/c…
- [Incident 19921226053969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921226053969I), Dec 26, 1992: Piper PA28* (N5263W), Warren, OH, Minor damage. Lost directional control of aircraft on takeoff. Veered off runway. Had icy runway and a crosswind.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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