Accident Piper PA-23-250 N54815, Tuesday 26 February 1985

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Date:	Tuesday 26 February 1985
Time:	19:15 LT
Type:	Piper PA-23-250
Owner/operator:	Thomas Strahota
Registration:	N54815
MSN:	7554112
Total airframe hrs:	3900 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-540-C4B5
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Markesan, WI - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Black River, WI (Y35)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
ALTHOUGH THE PILOT BELIEVED HE HAD ENOUGH VISIBILITY TO LAND AT THIS UNLIGHTED AIRFIELD AT DUSK, HE, IN FACT, ALIGNED THE AIRCRAFT UP APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. HE LANDED IN A SHALLOW SNOWBANK THAT PARALLELED THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: