CHI94LA099

The pilot received a weather brief prior to departure in addition to having a local resident at the destination report that the runway had been cleared after a recent snowstorm. After a two hour flight, the pilot touched down on a night visual landing at the unattended airport. During the landing rollout on the 50 foot wide runway, the airplane encountered drifted snow. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane swerved into the plowed snowbank on the runway edge.

On February 26, 1994, at 2100 hours eastern standard time, a Cessna 172RG, operated as a rental aircraft by Lorrie Phyle of Clarkston, Michigan, impacted snow drifts on the runway edge during a night landing at the City-County Airport, Frankfort, Michigan(3D4). The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The non-instrument rated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, a VFR flight plan was filed but not opened. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Pontiac, Michigan at 1945 hours.

The pilot reported having received a weather briefing from flight service prior to the flight. In addition, a local resident at the destination reported to the pilot that the runway had been cleared after a recent snowstorm.

The airport was an uncontrolled/unattended field with medium intensity runway lighting on runway 14-32. The dimensions of the runway were 3240 feet x 50 feet of hard surface asphalt. The runway had been plowed of snow, creating a snow berm on the western edge. Snow had drifted back onto the runway, covering approximately 1/2 the runway width.

According to the pilot the landing pattern was entered and a visual approach made to runway 32. During rollout the airplanes' wheels began to drag through drifted snow. The airplane swerved left into the plowed snowbank contacting the propeller and right wingtip. The outboard 2 feet of the right wingtip was bent upwards.