Event DEN04LA046

Factual narrative

On January 27, 2004, at approximately 1245 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N33363, operated by G & B Investment Management, was substantially damaged when it struck a snow bank during landing at Skypark Airport (BTF), Bountiful, Utah. The student pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for this local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed at approximately 1145. According to the student pilot, the local flight was to practice ground reference and performance maneuvers in preparation for his private pilot check ride. Upon returning to Skypark, he decided not to do any pattern work and he set up for a full stop landing on runway 16. He stated that, because of the winds, he came in with no flaps. While on final approach he realized he was a little high, so he decreased the engine power to idle and descended to the runway. The pilot stated that "when the airplane touched down, the right main [landing gear] wheel touched down well into the snow." When the airplane veered and departed the right side of the runway, the left wing impacted a snow bank. The airplane came to a stop on a heading of approximately 220 degrees. The impact with the snow bank crushed the leading edge of the left wing and bent the left wing's spar. According to the student pilot, he examined the touchdown point of both main wheels and stated that, "they were both within the runway boundary." He also stated that, "the runway wasn't plowed [to its] full width," and there were no Notices To Airman (NOTAMS) that identified this. At 1256, the reported weather at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah, (approximately 4 nautical miles at 210 degrees, and at an elevation of 4,227 feel msl) was, wind, 170 degrees at 9 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, overcast at 6,000 feet; temperature, 2 degrees C.; dew point, minus 9 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 30.08. The calculated density altitude was 3,532 feet msl. According to an FAA inspector, the student pilot had not flown with an instructor for over 30 days and the student pilot's 90-day solo endorsement had expired. According to the student pilot, the local flight was to practice ground reference and performance maneuvers in preparation for his private pilot check ride. When he returned to the airport, he decided not to do any pattern work and he set up for a full stop landing on runway 16. He stated that, because of the winds, he came in with no flaps. While on final approach he realized he was a little high, so he decreased the engine power to idle and descended to the runway. The pilot stated that "when the airplane touched down, the right main [landing gear] wheel touched down well into the snow." When the airplane veered and departed the right side of the runway, the left wing impacted a snow bank. The airplane came to a stop on a heading of approximately 220 degrees. The impact with the snow bank crushed the leading edge of the left wing and bent the left wing's spar. According to the student pilot, he examined the touchdown point of both main wheels and stated that, "they were both within the runway boundary." He also stated that, "the runway wasn't plowed [to its] full width," and there were no Notices To Airman (NOTAMS) that identified this. According to an FAA inspector, the student pilot had not flown with an instructor for over 30 days and the student pilot's 90-day solo endorsement had expired. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12