- Date
- March 5, 1994, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- South Bethlehem, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7139PPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940305003919A
- Case key
- 38734
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 failure of the pilot to maintain proper alignment with the runway and the inadequate snow removal.
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
The pilot reported that during the landing the left wingtip struck a snowbank next to the left side of the runway. The aircraft swerved to the left and the right wing also struck the snow bank.
Factual narrative
On March 5, 1994, at 1000 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24, N7139P, was substantially damaged when the aircraft collided with a snow bank while landing at South Albany Airport, South Bethlehem, New York. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by P.T. Air Inc., Albany, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to NTSB form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated:
...After touchdown on [runway 01]...left wing tip caught snow bank along left side of runway. This caused right wing to come around and hit snow bank on left side. Left snow bank was very close to edge of left side of runway and right snow bank was pushed 10'-15' back from the right side of the runway.
In a telephone interview, the FAA inspector stated the aircraft landed right of centerline and corrected left. It was also revealed that the runway was immediately plowed after the occurrence. Consequently, no verification could be made as to the condition of the runway. There were no NOTAMS issued for the runway conditions or height of the snow banks.
The passenger was a certified private pilot but the aircraft did not require a second pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7139P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-2304
- Airframe hours
- 5,200
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- P T Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1993 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- ALB · Albany, NY
- Airport
- 4BO · South Albany, runway 1, 2,860 × 30 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 410 total · 50 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 18 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ALB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7139P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.