The pilot departed on a short cross-country flight and arrived at his destination airport near Coldwater, Mich. He overflew the airport and observed blowing snow on both runways. Because the wind was from 220°, he elected to land on runway 22.
During the roll-out, the Cessna 340 hit the plowed snow at the intersection of runway 07/25. The nose gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.
The pilot added that the snow banks should have been removed from the intersection and a NOTAM should have been published.
A review of the Airport/Facilities Directory’s (A/FD) note section for the airport had the notice: “Runway 07/25 plowed during winter months, contact the airport manager for conditions.”
Right before the accident, the automated weather reporting station reported visibility at 3 miles in light snow, with the wind from 260° at 11 knots.
The weather station normally broadcasts the A/FD message about runway 07/25 being plowed during winter months, however, an electrical power interruption erased the message prior to the accident.
With reduced visibility and blowing snow on the runways, it’s likely that a pilot would not be able to see the plowed snow banks.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as airport personnel not removing the snow banks from the intersecting runway or closing the intersection runway, which resulted in the airplane hitting the snow banks. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility inhibiting the pilot’s ability to see the plowed snow hazard.
NTSB Identification: CEN14CA114
This January 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I’m curious about the NTSB determination on this one. As mentioned a note in the A/FD indicated runway 07/25 is plowed during winter months and to contact the airport manager for conditions. Did the pilot contact the airport manager? There’s no mention of that issue in the report. Did the pilot comply with FAR 91.103 (become familiar with all available information)? It’s interesting to note that the current A/FD for KOEB indicates “Rwy 04-22 and Rwy 16-34 not plowed. Closed Nov-Mar. Call 517-317-4802 for field conditions.” As mentioned on page 1-11 of the FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, the A/FD is a flight publication that is “key to safe flight”.
You took the words right out of my mouth, Marvin. It’s hard to believe that they finally blamed something on other than the pilot.
The only option was to drag the runways favorable to the wind conditions at the time and take the best option. It is said to say that the staffing at certain airports is less than great. No one wants to get off their duff anymore when the weather outside isn’t as good as the temperature in the office.
Your staffing comment tells me you have no idea how small county airports are funded and operated. Speaking of “getting off their duff,” here’s the first line from the Additional Remarks line on AirNav: RY 04/22 & 16/34 NOT PLOWED. CLOSED NOV-MAR.
Maybe the PILOT could have “gotten off his duff” and READ that before flying into Coldwater. Between the A/FD and AirNav, there’s a wealth of information available. Perhaps a little reading would have prevented his misfortune.
Typically, small airports have NO snow removal equipment, and depend on the city/county employees to come by [when they can] and plow at the airport. Or it’s contracted on a per-service basis with one of the private [usually landscapers-mowers] companies who plow parking lots and shopping centers in the winter. They often get around to the airport late at night or early in the morning and have to be called back to rectify their mistakes, which they are in no hurry to do, since it involves no additional pay. However, if you wanted to volunteer to show up and try to hand-shovel a pile of snow packed together by a truck…well, I’m sure you’d be welcome to try.
WELL what do you know , this one was not pilot error.
AF/D: AIRPORT REMARKS: … Call arpt manager at 517–617–7145 for conditions.
It appears the pilot failed to read the very important ‘remark’ section of the AF/D pertaining to operations at this ‘irregularly attended’ airport. The City plow operator certainly did a poor job of plowing. Whomever was responsible for the recorded message on the ASOS broadcast failed to correct the error introduced by a power failure that occurred months prior to the accident, BUT the pilot failed in his duty to confirm airport conditions prior to making a winter landing when snow berms and contaminated runways might reasonably be anticipated.