CHI99LA036

Factual narrative

On November 20, 1998, at 1600 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 150M, N66314, operated by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when during landing it departed the left side of the runway and struck a snow bank. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The student pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Ely, Minnesota, at 1445 cst, and was en route to Tower, Minnesota. In his written statement, the pilot said that he had flown from Ely, Minnesota, to Tower, Minnesota. Prior to the accident, the pilot said that he had previously performed two go-arounds and two landings to runway 26 at Tower Airport. On his third landing, the pilot said that he touched down left of the runway centerline, and failed to correct back. He said that "the left landing gear caught a [snow] drift and caused the nose [of the airplane] to turn into a snowbank." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the Tower Airport. The outboard two feet of the airplane's right wing to the wing tip was bent upward and twisted aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the airplane's engine, engine controls, or other airplane systems. On his third landing at the Tower, Minnesota Airport, the pilot said that he touched down left of the runway centerline, and failed to correct back. He said that 'the left landing gear caught a [snow] drift and caused the nose [of the airplane] to turn into a snowbank.' Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12