Piper PA-28-236 accident near Alton Bay, New Hampshire, February 14, 2010
On February 14, 2010 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N236PR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Alton Bay, New Hampshire (Alton Bay Seaplane Base airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing on an ice runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 2010 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alton Bay, New Hampshire · Alton Bay Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N236PR · registry record · serial 28-7911272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 580 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Connecticut Flyers INC
The flight
- Departed from: KSNC Chester CT at 4:00 pm
- Destination: B18 Alton Bay NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.32 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from LCI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.