CHI95LA046

Factual narrative

On November 26, 1994, about 1650 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-44-180, N2127D, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Dickinson Municipal Airport, Dickinson, North Dakota. The flight instructor, student pilot, and two passengers aboard the airplane were not injured. The instructional flight originated at the Cutbank Municipal Airport, Cutbank, Montana, at 1330, with an intended destination of Bismark, North Dakota. An IFR flight plan was filed, and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight instructor reported the flight encountered freezing rain, and began to accrue ice on the windshield and structure of the airplane. The instructor requested an altitude change. He stated the ice accumulation lessened but they were still picking up some ice. The instructor requested the weather conditions at both Bismark and Dickinson. He made the decision to divert the flight to Dickinson for landing. The instructor stated he flew the VOR-A approach to the airport then entered a downwind for landing on runway 07. He stated the windshield had accumulated ice so he landed the airplane using the instruments and by looking out the side window. The instructor stated the airplane touched down hard. DURING A FLIGHT AT NIGHT, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE ICE ON THE STRUCTURE AND ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE INSTRUCTOR REQUESTED AN ALTITUDE CHANGE AND DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE WINDSHIELD BECAME COVERED WITH ICE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE INSTRUCTOR LANDING THE AIRPLANE BY USING THE INSTRUMENTS AND BY LOOKING OUT THE SIDE WINDOW. A HARD LANDING OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12