Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's misjudgement of the actual altitude of the airplane. Factors were the visual illusion caused by the snow covered runway environment and the whiteout weather condition.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On January 29, 1995, at 0830 central standard time, a Beech V35A- TC airplane, N68DC, operated by Milwel Inc. of Montevideo, Minnesota, sustained substantial damage when it was landed short of the runway in Pembina, North Dakota. The private pilot reported no injuries. The personal flight originated at 0645 in Montevideo, Minnesota, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported he cancelled IFR about 15 miles from his destination and continued under VFR. He said he intended to make a low pass to observe the condition of the snow covered runway. He lowered the landing gear and full flaps, turned on to the runway heading, and observed the altimeter indication at 820 feet. Before he realized it, the airplane impacted the terrain short of runway 33.
The airplane struck the ground in one and one half to two feet of hard packed snow. The nose and left main landing gear collapsed as the airplane rotated to a heading of about 070 degrees and came to rest, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing.
The pilot reported there was light blowing snow at the time of the accident. The airport environment and runway were covered with one to two inches of new snow.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI95LA076