DEN83LA073

Factual narrative

THE CESSNA 172 COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK DURING LANDING AND NOSED OVER. THE WEATHER WAS VMC WITH LIGHT WINDS FROM 20 DEGREES AT 3 KTS. ONE INCH OF FRESH SNOW WAS COVERING THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID HE FLEW THE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 34 WITH 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND TOUCHED DOWN 150 YARDS PAST THE NUMBERS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT SKIDDED TO THE LEFT FOR ABOUT 100 YARDS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE APPLIED BRAKES AND RIGHT RUDDER TO NO AVAIL. WHEN HE APPLIED POWER THE ACFT STRAIGHTENED BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR WENT INTO A SNOW BANK AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER THE PILOT RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE CERTIFICATE 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND HAD ABOUT 90 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12