Cherokee County Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cherokee, Iowa 51012
Thursday, January 21, 2010 14:35 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot flew an instrument approach to runway 36 and decided to circle to land on runway 18 as the winds slightly favored runway 18, and because runway 36 contained a slight downhill slope. While on final approach the pilot lowered full flaps and slowed the airplane to 80 miles per hour. The pilot intended to land as close to the end of the runway as possible because he was concerned about the lack of braking action on the snow- and ice-covered runway. The landing gear subsequently contacted a hard snowbank about 30 feet before the approach end of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's firewall. The airplane then slid about 450 feet down the center of the runway prior to coming to rest. The pilot reported that it was difficult to judge the terrain as everything was snow covered and white. The pilot did not report having any problems with the operation of the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot misjudged his altitude while on short final approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/21/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1435
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Cherokee
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 51012
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424352N
Event Location Longitude 0953321W
Event Location Airport Cherokee County Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CKP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1435 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CKP
Elevation of weather observation facility 1227
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.76
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26666
NTSB Notification Source FAA-DMS-FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 3 2010 10:18AM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8916P
NTSB Number CEN10CA106
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-260
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-4348
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 12 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 3522
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WENCK KENT W
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CHEROKEE
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51012-1557
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WENCK KENT W
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CHEROKEE
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 51012-1557
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LAA
Departure City Lamar
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CKP
Destination City Cherokee
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 2 2010 6:49PM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3801
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --