BFO94LA030

The pilot was aware of reported 'poor braking' condition at his destination due to his knowledge of a previously issued NOTAM. He said that he set up his approach to land in the first one-fifth of the runway. Upon landing, the airplane started sliding on the icy runway. The airplane departed the side of the runway and collided with a snow bank. The pilot did not attempt a go- around because of the airplane's low airspeed and because he did not think the airplane would clear snow banks in the vicinity of the runway.

On January 25, 1994, at 1550 hours eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28, N8211V, sustained substantial damage during landing when the airplane slid off the right side of runway 31 at the William H. Morse State Airport, Bennington, Vermont, and impacted a snow bank. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instrument flight rules cross country flight originated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and its final destination was the William H. Morse State Airport. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspector, the pilot reported that the William H. Morse State Airport had a NOTAM filed on January 18, 1994, reporting that there was poor braking action on the runway. The pilot stated that because of the reported poor braking action, he made sure the airplane touched down on the first one fifth of the runway. He stated that he crossed over the runway threshold "...at 80 knots and had 2/3 flaps in." He stated that once the airplane touched down, he had no directional control of the airplane and there was no "...braking action." The pilot stated that the airplane went off the right side of the runway and impacted a snow bank. The pilot also stated that he did not conduct a go-around because the airplane's airspeed was too low and he did not think the airplane would clear the snow bank.