Incident Details
During the landing approach, the flight crew acquired visual reference with the ground and approach lights at approximately 200 feet above ground level, followed by visual sighting of the runway. The Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) had reported blowing snow, so the crew expected and was not surprised to see snow blowing across the runway about 2,000 feet beyond the threshold.
At about 2,200 feet down the runway, the aircraft entered a cloud of snow. Shortly thereafter, the right wing struck a large snow sweeping vehicle that was traveling in the same direction and to the right of the runway centerline. The impact caused the right wing to separate, and the aircraft swerved off the runway.
ATC Communication
Neither the approach controller nor the local controller advised the flight of snow removal operations. The local controller did not communicate with the snow sweeper after he took the hand-off of the flight from approach control. The local controller stated that he did not know where the sweeper was when he cleared the flight to land.