Mettel Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Connersville, Indiana 47331
Thursday, February 11, 2010 15:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident occurred during a landing attempt on an ice- and slush-covered runway. The pilot reported that shortly after touchdown the airplane began veering toward the left side of the runway. He was unable to correct for the airplane's left swerve and it subsequently impacted a snowbank situated alongside the runway. The left wing's main and aft spars were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing on an ice- and slush-covered runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/11/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Connersville
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47331
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394155N
Event Location Longitude 0850747W
Event Location Airport Mettel Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KCEV
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 867
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KCEV
Elevation of weather observation facility 867
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26755
NTSB Notification Source FAA - Great Lakes ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 1 2010 3:09PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8946W
NTSB Number CEN10CA118
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-235
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-10517
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 29 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2279
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Adam J. Beck
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5535 N 900 W
Aircraft Owner City Mulberry
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46058
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Adam J. Beck
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 5535 N 900 W
Operator City Mulberry
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 46058
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 KDCY
Departure City Washington
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KCEV
Destination City Connersville
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 25 2010 10:38PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 6500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --