CHI94LA063

The student pilot was performing a night landing on a runway with compacted, patchy, snow areas. He said his final approach and touchdown were left of the runway's centerline. Upon touchdown, the airplane's left main landing gear tire began rolling on a snow bank that protruded approximately three feet inward from the runway's edge. The airplane's right wing collided with the runway when the airplane pivoted on the left tire that became stuck in the snow bank.

On January 12, 1994, at 1900 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 152, N5329B, registered to Aircraft Investments, Incorporated, of Casselton, North Dakota, and piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged during landing when it collided with a snow bank on the edge of runway 31 (3,200' X 60' dry concrete with patchy, compacted snow areas) at the Casselton Airport, Casselton, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Casselton, North Dakota, at 1730 cst.

The pilot's written statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2 revealed the airplane was left of centerline during the final approach to landing. He stated: "After touchdown I noticed I was to far left and attempted to turn right but nothing happened, it was if I was being pulled left by a tractor beam or something."

The fixed base operator (FBO) owning N5329B stated the airplane's left tire started riding up the snow bank shortly after touchdown. He said the tire track in the snow bank was approximately 100 feet long. He stated the left tire dug into the snow bank and caused the airplane to pivot to the left. During the pivoting action, the airplane's right wing collided with the runway. The snow bank extended inward from the runway's edge approximately three feet and was 16 inches deep at its highest point, according to the FBO owner.