Cessna T210N N4137C accident near Truckee, California

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to identify the snow-covered runway, which resulted in an off-runway landing and subsequent collision with a berm.

NTSB analysis

While nearing the vicinity of the destination airport, the pilot received an airport condition report from airport personnel. The report indicated that there was ice with a 1- to 2-inch layer of snow blanketing the runway surface. On final approach, the pilot aligned the airplane for landing and flared over what he thought was the normal touchdown point, when in actuality the airplane touched down about 50 feet north of, and parallel to, the runway. While on the landing roll the airplane encountered a snow berm at the edge of a cross runway that collapsed the nose landing gear and damaged the firewall. The pilot opined that his complacency and deviation from standard aeronautical decisionmaking practices resulted in the accident. The pilot additionally reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to impact.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10CA190 for the full record.