NTSB Factual Report

On February 11, 2002, approximately 1310 mountain standard time, an Aviat A-1A, N29HU, was substantially damaged during landing at Afton Municipal Airport, Afton, Wyoming. The commercial pilot and pilot rated-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Afton approximately 1240.

The following is based on a telephone conversation with the pilot and the accident report he submitted. He intentionally landed the airplane slightly right of centerline to avoid a strip of ice on the runway. When the airplane touched down, it started to veer to the right. The pilot said he corrected by applying left rudder, but "action was not normal." He said his "left foot did not feel positioned right." He then adjusted the positioning of his foot on the rudder pedal. At this point the aircraft was getting close to the east side of the runway, and he corrected back towards the centerline. The right elevator struck a snow bank, and the airplane veered sharply to the right, hit the snow bank and nosed down. There was substantial damage to the right elevator and lesser damage to the left wing tip and engine cowling.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a collision with a snow bank. Contributing factors were the icy runway and the snow bank.