Palmer, AK, USA
N817PS
Cessna 172
According to the pilot, while conducting a low-altitude pass over a frozen, snow-covered lake in his wheel-equipped airplane, he misjudged the airplane's height above the lake. The landing gear contacted snow, and subsequently, the left wing and propeller struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that the accident may have been prevented if he had done a better job of evaluating the flight scenario and had properly addressed the risks involved with low-level flight over a snow-covered landscape, including the importance of recognizing visual illusions and depth perception issues associated with those conditions.
According to the pilot, while conducting a low altitude pass over a frozen, snow-covered lake in his wheel-equipped airplane, he misjudged the airplane's height above the ground. The airplane's landing gear contacted the snow and the airplane descended. Subsequently, the left wing and propeller struck the ground and the airplane came to rest upright on the snow-covered terrain, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had done a better job of evaluating the flight scenario and had properly addressed the risks involved with low level flight over a snow covered landscape. In addition to, the visual illusions associated with those conditions.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
