# NTSB CHI85LA126: Piper PA-23-250, N54815, Markesan, WI, February 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1985, 18:15 local (Feb 27, 1985, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Markesan, WI
- Coordinates: 43.699096, -88.980316 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6991&lon=-88.9803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13016
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13016/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA126

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - psychological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snow covered
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

ALTHOUGH THE PILOT BELIEVED HE HAD ENOUGH VISIBILITY TO LAND AT THIS UNLIGHTED AIRFIELD AT DUSK, HE, IN FACT, ALIGNED THE AIRCRAFT UP APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. HE LANDED IN A SHALLOW SNOWBANK THAT PARALLELED THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N54815 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7554112
- Airframe hours: 3900
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas Strahota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 21, 1985, 8 hours before
- Departed: Y35, BLACK RIVER, WI
- Airport: RLA, Nowatzski Feild, runway 27, 2,600 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,775 total, 308 in this make and model, 1,630 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 280° at 20 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 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 19850226008049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850226008049A), Feb 26, 1985: Piper PA23250, Markesan, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot mistook long snowbank for gravel runway. Nose gear collapsed on touchdown at dusk.

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.

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