# NTSB CHI94LA088: Piper PA-28R-200, N76SA, Sandwich, IL, February 14, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 14, 1994, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Sandwich, IL - Coordinates: 41.639236, -88.620681 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6392&lon=-88.6207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9470 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9470/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA088 ## Probable cause the private pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing on a snow and ice covered runway. Factors are the snow on the runway and the snowbank. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) - Nose down, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed ## Analysis THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THE APPROACH AND TOUCHDOWN WERE NORMAL, BUT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRPLANE HAD MOVED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A PILE OF PLOWED ICE AND SNOW LOCATED ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE VEERED BACK INTO THE RUNWAY, AND CAME TO REST NOSED DOWN. THE PILOT STATED WHEN HE SAW THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS, HE HAD DOUBTS ABOUT LANDING SAFELY, BUT HE 'HAD LANDED ON SNOW BEFORE, SO I PRECEEDED.' HE STATED HE SHOULD NOT HAVE LANDED UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. ## Factual narrative On February 14, 1994, at 0915 central standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N76SA, a rental airplane operated on a pleasure flight, sustained substantial damage when it skidded off the left side of Runway 26 at Sandwich, Illinois and struck a snowbank. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Valparaiso, Indiana, approximately 0840. The pilot reported the approach and touchdown were normal, but immediately after landing the plane veered to the left. The pilot stated by the time he had "better control" of the airplane, it was close to the left edge of the runway, so he elected to abort the landing. During the aborted landing the nose and left main landing gear struck a pile of plowed snow and ice located along the left edge of the runway. The airplane veered back onto the runway, and came to rest nose down. The pilot reported the runway was 95% to 100% covered with packed snow and ice. He stated: "After viewing the condition of the runway at Woodlake, I had doubts about landing safely, but I had landed on snow before so I proceeded. I should have followed my first inclination and decided not to land under those conditions." The airport operator reported the runway was covered with ice and snow deposited during a recent ice storm. He indicated due to continuing cold weather they had been unable to remove the ice from the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76SA-2018-03-12), registration cancelled 2018-03-12, S/N 28R-7635110, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7635110 - Airframe hours: 3701 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-CIC 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eagle Aircraft - Registered owner: Eagle Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 22, 1993, 31 hours before - Departed: VPZ, VALPARAISO, IN - Airport: C48, Woodlake Landing, runway 26, 2,988 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 197 total, 39 in this make and model, 156 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °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 19940214002359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940214002359A), Feb 14, 1994: Piper PA28R200, Sandwich, IL, Substantial damage. Landed on snow and ice covered runway. Lost directional control. Began go around. Struck snowbank fell onto runway ## Other investigations on N76SA (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 CHI02FA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA177), Jun 26, 2002: Piper PA-28R-200 (N76SA), Steward, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of several number three cylinder through bolts and case studs, which resulted in the separation of the number three engine cylinder. A factor… 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.