- Date
- January 7, 1993, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place
- Council, ID
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9841QPiper PA-18-135
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930107000219A
- Case key
- 42942
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 proper altitude during the low pass. The snow covered terrain and the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation were factors.
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 upon arrival at the airport, he noted that the runway had not been recently plowed of snow. A low pass to the north over the runway was made to try to determine the depth of the snow. The pilot turned the airplane around and approached the runway to the south to make a run on the runway and 'drag' the wheels on the snow. The wheels contacted the snow just past mid field and the pilot stated 'immediately we were in too deep and I was unable to pull it out or add power...' The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Airport personnel reported that the airport was notamed closed since December 27, 1992. The pilot did not make contact with the airport operator prior to the accident and the pilot stated that he was unaware that the airport was closed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9841Q
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-135
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 54-2319
- Airframe hours
- 3,526
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Public use
- Operator
- US State Animal Damage Cont
- Registered owner
- Id Woolgrowers Assoc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 8, 1992 · 36 hours before
- Departed
- Cambridge, ID
- Destination
- 1 · Boise, ID
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- U52 · Council, runway 17, 3,600 × 50 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 18,039 total · 8,831 in this make and model · 17,897 as pilot in command · 172 in the last 90 days · 77 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 9 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.