What happened
Prior to departing Salt Lake City, Utah, the pilot reviewed weather information for the destination airport at Mt Pleasant, Utah. Reports indicated Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions and confirmed that Mt Pleasant Municipal Airport was open for operations. Upon arrival in the area, the pilot observed plowed snow furrows lining both sides of the runway. The pilot noted what appeared to be only a light dusting of new snow on these furrows and the runway surface itself. Based on this visual assessment, the pilot proceeded with the landing.
After touchdown, the aircraft traveled normally for approximately 75 to 100 feet. Suddenly, the main wheels penetrated the surface crust. The runway was actually covered by six inches of snow beneath a hard layer of ice. This loss of traction caused the aircraft to nosed over immediately upon impact with the deeper snow layer.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that Mt Pleasant Municipal Airport is an unmanaged field. During the winter months, no official ground operations or maintenance are conducted there. Consequently, no information regarding the deteriorating runway conditions was communicated to the Flight Service Station (FSS). Because the FSS lacked knowledge of the extensive snow cover, no Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued to alert arriving traffic to the hazardous surface conditions.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's decision to land on a runway that appeared clear but was actually obscured by six inches of snow and ice. Contributing factors included the lack of official management at the destination airport during winter, which resulted in no NOTAMs being issued to warn pilots of the field condition.
N32948, a Cessna 172N, sustained substantial damage to the airframe and control system. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft type involved was a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The phase of flight was landing.
Safety message
Pilots must verify current runway conditions at unmanaged airports, especially during winter months. Visual appearance from the air can be deceptive regarding snow depth and ice crust. Relying solely on general weather reports without checking for specific NOTAMs or contacting local authorities can lead to landing on unsafe surfaces.