Alton Bay Seaplane Base Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alton Bay, New Hampshire 03809
Sunday, February 14, 2010 11:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot the landing on the ice runway was smooth but the airplane began to drift left. The pilot was hesitant to use heavy rudder and brake inputs, as he was unsure of their effect when landing on ice. As the pilot continued to apply right rudder, the left main landing gear began “dragging on snow,” which prevented the plane from turning right. The airplane veered into a snow bank, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. A crosswind of 16 knots, gusting to 23 knots, was present at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing on an ice runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/14/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Alton Bay
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03809
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432839N
Event Location Longitude 0711413W
Event Location Airport Alton Bay Seaplane Base
Event Location Nearest Airport ID B18
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 504
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1115 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 306
Weather Observation Facility ID LCI
Elevation of weather observation facility 545
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3700
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.33
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26709
NTSB Notification Source FAA ANE ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 26 2010 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N236PR
NTSB Number ERA10CA144
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-28-236
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7911272
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats 0
Passenger Seats 3
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name CONNECTICUT FLYERS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MADISON
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06443-8100
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CONNECTICUT FLYERS INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MADISON
Operator State CT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 06443-8100
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 KSNC
Departure City Chester
Departure State CT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code B18
Destination City Alton Bay
Destination State NH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 12 2010 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --