# NTSB NYC04LA069: Piper PA-34-200, N44LJ, Davis, WV, February 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2004, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Davis, WV - Coordinates: 37.819641, -82.079902 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8196&lon=-82.0799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 58749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58749/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA069 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after encountering a snow patch on the runway. A factor related to the accident was the snowdrift. ## 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) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis Upon arriving in the vicinity of the airport, the pilot circled the runway twice to determine the wind direction and runway conditions. The runway appeared to look clear, with a few ice patches on the surface, and snow mounds off to the sides. After touching down on the runway, the left landing gear assembly encountered a "low flat" snow patch, and the airplane began to pull to the left. The airplane continued off the side of the runway, and came to rest upright in a snow-covered field. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2004, at 1440 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34-200, N44LJ, was substantially damaged while landing at the Windwood Resort Airport, Davis, West Virginia. The certificate private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from the Winchester Regional Airport (OKV), Winchester, Virginia. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, upon arriving in the vicinity of the airport, he circled the runway twice to determine the wind direction and runway conditions. The runway appeared to look clear, with a few ice patches on the surface, and snow mounds off to the sides. After touching down on runway 06, a 3,000-foot long, 40-foot wide asphalt runway, the left landing gear assembly encountered a "low flat" snow patch, and the airplane began to pull to the left. The pilot elected not to abort the landing, and let the airplane continue off the side of the runway, where it came to rest upright in a snow-covered field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44LJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44LJ-2018-05-11), registration cancelled 2018-05-11, S/N 347250298, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7250298 - Airframe hours: 4953 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Book-A-Plane.com - Registered owner: Book-A-Plane.Com - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 2003 - Departed: OKV, Winchester, VA - Destination: WV62, Davis, WV - Airport: WV62, Winwood Resort Airport, runway 06, 3,000 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 13, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 470 total, 175 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 14 °F - Observed at: W99 ## 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 20040216002029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040216002029A), Feb 16, 2004: Piper PA34200, Davis, WV, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he was landing on runway 6 at windwood fly-in resorts in Davis, west Virginia, a small Private strip 3000 feet in length. The pilot hit… 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.