- Date
- January 23, 2000, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Plymouth, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N3814PPiper PA-22-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000123041369A
- Case key
- 48503
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's disregard of the unsafe runway condition, his decision to operate the airplane on unsuitable terrain, and the failure to maintain runway centerline alignment which resulted in the landing gear contacting deeper snow. Factors associated with the accident were the snow covered runway and the snow bank which the airplane contacted.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported the runway was covered with approximately 2 inches of snow near the center and deeper snow on the left (north) side. He reported that as he was back taxiing, the left main gear contacted the deeper snow and the airplane veered to the left. The airplane then nosed over when it encountered a two to three foot deep snow bank on the left side of the runway. The pilot reported the local winds were from the south/southwest at 12 to 15 knots at the time of the accident. The Plymouth Municipal airport manager reported the runway had not been plowed. He stated the airport was NOTAMed closed and the accident pilot knew about the NOTAM.
Factual narrative
On January 23, 2000, at 0900 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 22, N3814P, collided with a snow bank and nosed over at the Plymouth Airport, Plymouth, Indiana. The private pilot was back taxiing the airplane on Runway 28 (4,400' x 60') in preparation for takeoff when the accident occurred. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.
The pilot reported the runway was covered with approximately 2 inches of snow near the center and deeper snow on the left (north) side. He reported that as he was taxiing, the left main gear contacted the deeper snow and the airplane veered to the left. The airplane then nosed over when it encountered a two to three foot deep snow bank on the left side of the runway. The pilot reported the local winds were from the south/southwest at 12 to 15 knots at the time of the accident.
The Plymouth Municipal airport manager reported the runway had not been plowed. He stated the airport was NOTAMed closed and the accident pilot knew about the NOTAM.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3814P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-3504
- Airframe hours
- 3,136
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Steven C. Hupka
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 1999 · 90 hours before
- Departed
- C65 · Plymouth, MI
- Airport
- C65 · Plymouth Municipal, runway 28, 4,400 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 29 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 21 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GSH, 29 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3814P · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.