CHI97LA054

Factual narrative

On January 16, 1997, at 1511 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N51448, operated by Cardinal Wings, sustained substantial damage during landing roll when the airplane started skidding on the ice covered runway and hit a snow bank. The private pilot and the one passenger were not injured. The 14 CFR 91 flight had departed Bowman Field, Louisville, Kentucky, and had landed at Bloomington Airport, Bloomington, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he landed on runway 35 and that the runway was covered with ice. He reported that the aircraft's speed was almost at taxi speed when a gust of wind caused the airplane to weathervane to the left. The pilot attempted differential braking while using crosswind aileron application. The pilot reported that the aircraft continued to slide off the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted a snow bank and nosed over to the vertical position before falling back on its landing gear. The official reported winds were 280 degrees at 15 knots. Runway 6 and 24 was closed. The pilot reported that the Notices to Airmen (NOTAM's) had indicated patchy ice on the runway, not the solid glaze of ice which he had encountered. The pilot reported that he had expected the runway conditions to be the same that he had experienced two days prior. The NOTAM's two days prior had also called for patchy ice, but the pilot reported that the conditions had been much better than on the day of the accident. Two NOTAM's for Burlington Airport were issued at 0449Z, January 16, 1997. The first indicated that runway 6 and 24 was closed. The second NOTAM indicated the following: "BMG 17/35 THN SIR SA BA POOR" The NOTAM indicated that runway 17/35 had thin packed or compacted snow/ice on the runway, sanded, braking action poor. The pilot reported he landed on runway 35 and that the runway was covered with ice. He reported that the aircraft's speed was almost at taxi speed when a gust of wind caused the airplane to weathervane to the left. The pilot attempted differential braking while using crosswind aileron application. The pilot reported that the aircraft continued to slide off the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted a snow bank and nosed over to the vertical position before falling back on its landing gear. The official winds were 280 degrees at 15 knots. Runway 17/35 had been NOTAMed for thin packed or compacted snow/ice on the runway, sanded, braking action poor. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12