N55PY

On February 15, 2001, at 1215 central standard time, a Cessna 206H, N55PY, collided with a snow bank and nosed over on landing at the New Richmond Municipal Airport, New Richmond, Wisconsin. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 1100 central standard time.

The pilot reported he landed the airplane on a newly installed taxiway, which he mistook for the runway. The airplane contacted an icy section on the taxiway and slid to the left. The pilot reported he added a little power in an attempt to regain directional control, however, the airplane contacted a snow bank and nosed over. The pilot reported, "Main runway was totally snow covered and looked from air like groomed snow strip for ski planes."

Runway 32 is 4,003 feet long by 75 feet wide. The newly installed taxiway is 4,000 feet long by 35 feet wide and it parallels runway 32. The new taxiway was not depicted in the Flight Guide, or in the 1999-2000 Wisconsin Airport Directory at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, it also is not listed in the updated Garmin 530 or the Official Airport Directory.

According to the airport manager, the taxiway was opened on November 21, 2000. He stated that the pavement on the new taxiway is darker then the runway, and the ice and snow melted off of it quicker. He also stated that there was a NOTAM issued through October, 2000, which reported the taxiway was closed. He stated that once it was opened, another NOTAM was issued, for approximately a 2 week period, stating that the taxiway was commissioned. The airport manager also stated there was a NOTAM at the time of the accident stating that there was snow and ice on the aprons and taxiways.