Pilot Debrief

Cessna 172N near Beaver Marsh, OR — 2008-01-25

Final reportLAX08CA053
Sign in to save
Date
2008-01-25
Location
Beaver Marsh, OR, USA
Airport
2S2
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Registration
N734KU
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to land on a snow covered runway without first determining the depth of the snow.

NTSB narrative

As the pilot neared the airport, he decided to land as the passengers needed to use the airport's facilities. Using several visual clues, including some nearby vegetation, he estimated that the runway had a layer of snow on the surface several inches in depth. The airplane touched down on the snow covered runway and the airplane suddenly stopped, nosing over inverted. Once on the ground, the pilot found that the snow was in actuality over 1-foot deep. He reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

Related mishaps