What happened
During the arrival phase of flight, the aircraft touched down approximately 1725 feet beyond the runway threshold. The touchdown occurred with the right wing lowered and the right main gear positioned about 37 feet from the right edge of the runway. Following initial contact, the aircraft continued to drift to the right. The right propeller struck a snowbank standing between two and three feet high, which was located between the runway edge and the runway edge lights.
The impact caused the number one blade to separate from the propeller assembly. This detached component entered the cabin, resulting in 1 fatal injury to a passenger and seriously injuring another individual.
The investigation
An examination of the scene revealed that runway plowing activities conducted two days prior to the accident had left snowbanks at the edge of the runway, specifically inside the runway edge lights. These obstructions had not been removed in accordance with 14 CFR 139.85 and the Airport Operations Manual. There was no Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued regarding the presence of these snowbanks.
Additionally, the company station manager failed to notify the aircrew about the location of the obstructions. The flight crew was unaware that dimming the intensity of the approach lights by activating the microphone switch also caused the runway edge lights to dim. The captain believed he lost some peripheral visual cues after touchdown.
Findings
The investigation identified several contributing factors. Fuel exhaustion is not cited; rather, the primary issues were environmental and procedural. The failure to remove snowbanks violated federal regulations and airport operational manuals. The lack of a NOTAM deprived the crew of critical situational awareness regarding runway conditions. Furthermore, the interaction between approach light intensity controls and runway edge lighting reduced visibility cues for the pilot during the critical touchdown phase.
Safety message
Airport operators must ensure that snow removal complies with 14 CFR 139.85 to prevent obstructions within protected areas. Clear communication via NOTAMs is essential when runway conditions deviate from standard configurations. Pilots should be aware of lighting system interdependencies that may affect peripheral vision during low-visibility operations.