NTSB Factual Report

On February 8, 2004, about 1330 central standard time, a Piper PA 28-161, N38988, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage while landing at Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ), Lansing, IL. The local flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and 4 passengers sustained no injuries. The personal flight originated at 1320.

The pilot stated he was landing on runway 18 (4,002 feet by 75 feet, ice covered asphalt) at IGQ when the right main landing gear broke through the wing. The pilot reported the final approach was looking good with no drifting. Cessna traffic was present at the airport doing full stop, taxi back landings when the accident occurred. The Cessna traffic was behind the hold short lines when the accident airplane was on short final. The pilot stated that he noticed the Cessna rolling past the hold short lines as he prepared to land. He reported glancing at his airspeed indicator which read "66 knots", after he saw the Cessna move past the lines. Shortly after he glanced at the indicator, he passed over the threshold and "hit the runway hard." The pilot realized there was a problem with the airplane and maintained directional control by using the rudder pedals until the airplane slowed. The airplane rolled into a snow bank following the right gear failure. The pilot reported no mechanical difficulties. He also reported that he should have executed a go-around when he saw the Cessna airplane cross the holding lines.

NTSB Probable Cause

The improper flare by the pilot due to his diverted attention during landing. Factors were the pilot's failure to execute a go-around, the overload of the right main landing gear, and the snowbank.