St. Ignace, MI, USA
N33797
Piper PA-32-260
The airplane drifted to the left during the takeoff roll. The left wing contacted a snowbank which resulted in the airplane turning around 180 degrees prior to coming to a stop.
On January 13, 1997, at 0715 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 32-260, N33797, operated by Great Lakes Air, Inc., collided with a snowbank while taking of on runway 27 (3,400' x 100') at the St. Ignace- Mackinac County Airport, St. Ignace, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 135 passenger flight was en route to Mackinac Island, Michigan. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and five passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported on NTSB Form 6120.1/2, "A light snow was falling at the time. During the take-off I allowed the aircraft to drift to the left and the aircraft left wing hit a snow bank which turned the nose further to the left. The aircraft then turned 180 degrees and stopped on the runway."
the pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment during the takeoff roll. A factor associated with the accident was the snowbank which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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