- Date
- January 27, 2004, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Bountiful, UT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N33363Piper PA-28-151
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Salt Lake City FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040127000549A
- Case key
- 58764
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and adequate visual outlook during the landing flare. Contributing factors include the pilot's lack of recent experience, the snow bank, and the snow-covered runway.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the student pilot, the local flight was to practice ground reference and performance maneuvers in preparation for his private pilot check ride. When he returned to the airport, he decided not to do any pattern work and he set up for a full stop landing on runway 16. He stated that, because of the winds, he came in with no flaps. While on final approach he realized he was a little high, so he decreased the engine power to idle and descended to the runway. The pilot stated that "when the airplane touched down, the right main [landing gear] wheel touched down well into the snow." When the airplane veered and departed the right side of the runway, the left wing impacted a snow bank. The airplane came to a stop on a heading of approximately 220 degrees. The impact with the snow bank crushed the leading edge of the left wing and bent the left wing's spar. According to the student pilot, he examined the touchdown point of both main wheels and stated that, "they were both within the runway boundary." He also stated that, "the runway wasn't plowed [to its] full width," and there were no Notices To Airman (NOTAMS) that identified this. According to an FAA inspector, the student pilot had not flown with an instructor for over 30 days and the student pilot's 90-day solo endorsement had expired.
Factual narrative
On January 27, 2004, at approximately 1245 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N33363, operated by G & B Investment Management, was substantially damaged when it struck a snow bank during landing at Skypark Airport (BTF), Bountiful, Utah. The student pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for this local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed at approximately 1145.
According to the student pilot, the local flight was to practice ground reference and performance maneuvers in preparation for his private pilot check ride. Upon returning to Skypark, he decided not to do any pattern work and he set up for a full stop landing on runway 16. He stated that, because of the winds, he came in with no flaps. While on final approach he realized he was a little high, so he decreased the engine power to idle and descended to the runway. The pilot stated that "when the airplane touched down, the right main [landing gear] wheel touched down well into the snow." When the airplane veered and departed the right side of the runway, the left wing impacted a snow bank. The airplane came to a stop on a heading of approximately 220 degrees. The impact with the snow bank crushed the leading edge of the left wing and bent the left wing's spar.
According to the student pilot, he examined the touchdown point of both main wheels and stated that, "they were both within the runway boundary." He also stated that, "the runway wasn't plowed [to its] full width," and there were no Notices To Airman (NOTAMS) that identified this.
At 1256, the reported weather at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah, (approximately 4 nautical miles at 210 degrees, and at an elevation of 4,227 feel msl) was, wind, 170 degrees at 9 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, overcast at 6,000 feet; temperature, 2 degrees C.; dew point, minus 9 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 30.08. The calculated density altitude was 3,532 feet msl.
According to an FAA inspector, the student pilot had not flown with an instructor for over 30 days and the student pilot's 90-day solo endorsement had expired.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N33363
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-151
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7515312
- Airframe hours
- 7,265.8
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- G &B Investment Management
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 2, 2004 · 4.5 hours before
- Departed
- BTF · Bountiful, UT
- Destination
- BTF · Bountiful, UT
- Airport
- BTF · Skypark Airport, runway 16, 4,700 × 70 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 72 total · 63 in this make and model · 30 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 60 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KSLC, 4 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.