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, though the sole pilot was uninjured.
- The incident occurred due to the pilot's inability to discern the snow-covered runway's centerline, leading to one main gear landing off the runway surface.
- Impact with a snow mound caused the airplane to veer sideways, resulting in the collapse of all landing gear and considerable structural damage to its belly.
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