# NTSB BFO94LA030: Piper PA-28, N8211V, Bennington, VT, January 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 23, 1994, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Bennington, VT - Location: 42.8711° N, 73.1802° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bennington, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8711&lon=-73.1802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8883/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA030 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8211V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8211V), registered now, S/N 28-8011111 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236) (registry code 7102815) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8011111 - Airframe hours: 4638 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J345D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joe E. Hume - Registered owner: Joe E. Hume - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 1993, 19 hours before - Departed: LNS, LANCASTER, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 5B5, Wiilliam H. Morse State, runway 31, 3,704 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,505 total, 1,489 in this make and model, 1,489 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 9 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft overcast ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940123048609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940123048609A), Jan 23, 1994: Piper PA28236, Bennington, VT, Substantial damage. Landed on known nil braking action on icy runway. Slid off into a snowbank. Failed timely go around. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.