# NTSB NYC98LA070: Cessna 320F, N6189Q, Lincoln, ME, February 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 27, 1998, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, ME - Location: 45.3618° N, 68.5345° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LINCOLN RGNL (LRG), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3618&lon=-68.5345&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39537 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39537/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude which resulted in left main landing gear contacting a snowbank during the landing approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - snowbank - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - collapsed - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis During final approach, the airplane's left main landing gear contacted a 2.5 foot high snow/ice bank, located 21 feet prior to the runway threshold. The airplane swerved to the left, and the pilot added power to stabilize the airplane and to realigned it with the runway center line. During touchdown, the airplane's left wing dropped lower then normal. As the airplane slowed, it began to drift left despite the use of full right rudder and brake. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway, and it's left wing struck another snow bank. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On February 27, 1998, about 1215 eastern standard time, a Cessna 320F, N6189Q, was substantially damaged while landing at the Lincoln Regional Airport (LRG), Lincoln, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Portland, Maine, about 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that during the final approach to runway 35, about 10 feet above the ground, the airplane's left main landing gear contacted a snow/ice bank, which caused the airplane to swerve to the left. The pilot continued the landing, and added power to stabilize the airplane and to realigned it with the runway center line. During touchdown he noticed the airplane's left wing was dropping lower then normal. As the airplane slowed, it began to drift left despite the use of full right rudder and brake. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway, and it's left wing struck another snow bank. A pilot/witness on the ground stated: "...Snow banks were 1 to 4 feet, and largely clear of all paved [runway] surfaces....The aircraft speed and alignment seemed normal for the terrain and conditions. I could not observe from my vantage point when the left main gear struck the dry snow bank at the threshold of [runway] 35, nor the flare before final touchdown. I did observe the rapid left turn at mid field after the aircraft had veered off the left side of the runway...." According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the snowbank the airplane struck was 2.5 feet high and was located 21 feet prior to the runway 35 threshold. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6189Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6189Q-1998-08-10), registration cancelled 1998-08-10, S/N 320F0039 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 320F - Registry model: [Cessna 320F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320f) (registry code 2074516) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 320F0039 - Airframe hours: 4280 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael Scarks - Registered owner: B And N Wholesale Truck Parts - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 1998, 5 hours before - Departed: PWM, PORTLAND, ME - Destination: LRG - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LRG, Lincoln Regional, runway 35, 2,803 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,400 total, 125 in this make and model, 2,250 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MLT, 18 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980227002249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980227002249A), Feb 27, 1998: Cessna 320F, Lincoln, NE, Substantial damage. Left main geara hit frozen snowbank swerved left. Landed left wing low. Swerved into another snow bank. (-23) aircraft hit frozen snow bank on landing. Unknown… 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.