Cessna 172M N12989 accident near Jenison, Michigan

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing on an ice- and snow-covered runway in crosswind conditions.

NTSB analysis

After touching down on runway 32, which the pilot described as ice- and snow-covered, the airplane began drifting to the right. The pilot attempted to correct for the drift with left rudder pedal input; however, the airplane continued to move to the right, and the right main landing gear wheel entered the snow off the runway surface. The airplane impacted a snowbank, nosed over, and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The wind recorded about 1 1/2 hours before the accident at an airport located about 13 nautical miles northwest of the accident airport was from 230 degrees at 15 knots. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA161 for the full record.