We touched down beneath a dismal overcast at the Detroit Metro Airport, the runway a mixture of compacted snow and patches of bare, black concrete. The irregular pattern of snow removal indicated that the slippery area was mostly at the departure end of the runway, beyond the spot where the main wheels contacted the surface upon our landing. As the 727 slowed below 60 knots to a safe taxi speed, I applied some pressure to the nosewheel tiller and turned the airplane to the left. The copilot and flight engineer were sharing a lighthearted moment while I navigated onto the taxiway as per ground control's instructions. Unfortunately, the airplane wasn't cooperating. It was defiantly attempting to continue straight ahead off the taxiway into a snowbank.
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