What happened
The flight originated in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with an intended en route stop in St. Louis, Missouri, before proceeding to Salina, Kansas. During the initial briefing at Pittsburg, the pilot was informed of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) regarding conditions at the destination airport. The notice specified that the north 6800 feet of Runway 17/35 was closed, runway lights were obscured, and snowbanks stood approximately 10 feet high along the edges.
However, the pilot did not receive a briefing during the stopover in St. Louis. Upon arriving at Salina for an instrument approach, the pilot contacted the Flight Service Station (FSS) to request an airport advisory. While an advisory was provided, it failed to include the critical information about the closed portion of Runway 17/35.
After breaking out of the overcast clouds, the pilot canceled his Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan to allow another aircraft to begin its descent. The pilot then proceeded with a night visual approach to Runway 17, utilizing the Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) and approach lights for guidance.
Findings
The aircraft touched down on the closed portion of the runway, which was covered in approximately 18 inches of snow. When the nose gear was lowered during the landing roll, it failed due to the soft surface conditions. The resulting damage to the Cessna was assessed as minor.
The primary contributing factor was the pilot's failure to obtain updated weather and airport condition information during the en route stop, leading to a landing on an unsuitable surface. The FSS advisory also omitted key data that would have alerted the pilot to the runway closure.
Safety message
Pilots are reminded to ensure they receive complete and current NOTAMs at every stage of their flight, including during en route stops. Relying solely on initial briefings or incomplete airport advisories can lead to dangerous situations, particularly when weather conditions significantly alter runway usability.