At about 1130 Mountain time the airplane collided with terrain during an attempted landing. The airline transport pilot and sole occupant was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, who was familiar with the airport, the runway was covered with two or three inches of snow and he could not easily discern its centerline. When he touched down, one of the airplanes main gear was not on the runway surface and impacted a snow-covered mound of previously plowed snow. That impact threw the airplane sideways and it collided with more previously plowed snow. All three landing gear struts collapsed and the airplanes belly sustained considerable structural damage.
February 4, 2008, Parowan, Utah, Piper PA-32R-301T
At about 1130 Mountain time the airplane collided with terrain during an attempted landing. The airline transport pilot and sole occupant was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, who was familiar with the airport, the runway was covered with two or three inches of snow and he could not easily discern its centerline. When he touched down, one of the airplanes main gear was not on the runway surface and impacted a snow-covered mound of previously plowed snow. That impact threw the airplane sideways and it collided with more previously plowed snow. All three landing gear struts collapsed and the airplanes belly sustained considerable structural damage.
Key Takeaways:
- An airplane sustained substantial damage during an attempted landing at 11:30 Mountain time, though the sole pilot was uninjured.
- The incident occurred because the pilot had difficulty discerning the runway centerline due to 2-3 inches of snow covering it.
- Upon touchdown, one main gear missed the runway, impacted a snow-covered mound, throwing the airplane sideways and causing all landing gear to collapse and considerable structural damage to its belly.
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