# NTSB CHI91LA123: Piper PA-20, N7010K, Grand Marais, MN, March 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1991, 14:17 local (20:17 UTC)
- Place: Grand Marais, MN
- Coordinates: 47.749347, -90.338996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7493&lon=-90.3390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15035/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA123

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  THE CROSSWIND AND SNOW COVERED RUNWAY WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## 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 - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS LANDING ON A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY, IMPACTED A SNOWBANK, AND NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7010K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7010K), registered now, S/N 20-116, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 116
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Verl J. Tilbury
- Registered owner: Verl J. Tilbury
- Airport: GRM, Devils Track, runway 27, 2,809 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 110 total, 75 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910324007319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910324007319A), Mar 24, 1991: Piper PA20, Grand Marais, MN, Substantial damage. Lost control landing in gusty wind on compacted snow runway. Ran off into snowbank and nosed over.

## Other investigations on N7010K (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW71FRA10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71FRA10), Aug 2, 1970: Piper PA-20 (N7010K), League City, TX, substantial damage

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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