Piper PA-28-151 N33363

Summary

On 27 January 2004 at about 19:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N33363 was involved in an accident near Bountiful, Utah, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 January 2004 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Bountiful, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Skypark Airport (BTF)

Coordinates

40.8802, -111.8190

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N33363

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bountiful → Bountiful

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04LA046

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and adequate visual outlook during the landing flare. Contributing factors include the pilot's lack of recent experience, the snow bank, and the snow-covered runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the student pilot, the local flight was to practice ground reference and performance maneuvers in preparation for his private pilot check ride. When he returned to the airport, he decided not to do any pattern work and he set up for a full stop landing on runway 16. He stated that, because of the winds, he came in with no flaps. While on final approach he realized he was a little high, so he decreased the engine power to idle and descended to the runway. The pilot stated that "when the airplane touched down, the right main [landing gear] wheel touched down well into the snow." When the airplane veered and departed the right side of the runway, the left wing impacted a snow bank. The airplane came to a stop on a heading of approximately 220 degrees. The impact with the snow bank crushed the leading edge of the left wing and bent the left wing's spar. According to the student pilot, he examined the touchdown point of both main wheels and stated that, "they were both within the runway boundary." He also stated that, "the runway wasn't plowed [to its] full width," and there were no Notices To Airman (NOTAMS) that identified this. According to an FAA inspector, the student pilot had not flown with an instructor for over 30 days and the student pilot's 90-day solo endorsement had expired.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.