Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 400; Flight Crew Type 300
Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather
Takeoff close call with icy runway conditions.Runway was icy; but landing immediately before takeoff was uneventful. During taxi; braking effectiveness was observed to be significantly reduced; but adequate steering was possible (too much breaking resulted in wheels sliding). During takeoff; heightened concerns about icy conditions with a crosswind; led the pilot to start on the upwind side of the runway and apply crosswind correction with the ailerons. Soft field takeoff technique was utilized. Part way down the runway; while the wheels were still on the ground; the plane began to drift towards the upwind side of the runway. The plane continued to drift upwind after correcting and reversing the aileron direction. Airspeed was enough to leave the ground; but not enough to maintain flight; so pulling on the yoke lifted the plane above the snowbank lining the runway (~3 ft high). Lowering the nose to avoid a stall resulted in the left main contacting the snowbank. At this time the plane had enough airspeed to safely climb away from the runway. The pilot requested a visual review of the left main from a local tower that noted no abnormalities. The pilot continued to their destination and landed safely. Upon landing; visual inspection of the landing gear indicated no damage. Things that should have been done differently: Takeoff should have started in the center of the runway; despite concerns of a crosswind on the ice. Training on soft field takeoff utilization for an icy runway would have been beneficial. Waiting until runway conditions improved would have eliminated any risks.
C172 pilot reported contacting a snowbank with the left main landing gear on climbout from an icy runway.