MITCHELL, SD, USA
N5799Y
PIPER PA-23
AS THE PILOT APPROACHED SIOUX FALLS HE RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT IT WAS BELOW MINIMUMS, SO HE STARTED TO DIVERT. AS HE PASSED OVER SIOUX FALLS HE COULD SEE MITCHELL, SD, WHICH APPEARED TO BE CLEAR, THEREFORE, HE ELECTED TO LAND THERE. IT CONTINUED TO LOOK CLEAR UNTIL HE WAS ON A SHORT FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING. WITH THE LANDING LIGHT ON, HIS VISUAL REFERENCES WERE LOST. AFTER TURNING THE LANDING LIGHT OFF, HE COULD AGAIN SEE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS (AT ABOUT 20 FT AGL). AS HE DESCENDED FURTHER THE LIGHTS BECAME BARELY VISIBLE AND HE FLARED AT AN ANGLE TO THE RUNWAY. BY THIS TIME HE REALIZED HE WAS HEADED FOR THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY BUT IT WAS TOO LATE TO CORRECT OR GO AROUND. THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1/2 ON AND 1/2 OFF THE RUNWAY. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 20 FT IN SNOW ABOUT 6 INCHES DEEP, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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