On January 15, 1984, a Swearingen SA227-AC (registration N31088) operated by Trans Colorado Airline was involved in an aviation accident near Durango, CO. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing, the aircraft crossed the threshold at a higher speed due to ice on wings, then yawed left in flare, touched down with left main wheel near the runway edge, exited the runway, hit a snow bank and mud, and collapsed the nose gear.
Event Description
The captain reported that the first officer was handling the landing. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold at an altitude between 50 and 60 feet above ground level, with an airspeed of 110 to 115 knots. This airspeed was slightly higher than normal to compensate for a small amount of ice remaining on the leading edge of the wings.
Approach and Landing
The normal approach speed for the aircraft's weight was 103 knots. According to the flight manual, the approach speed should have been increased by 19 knots if ice was present on the flying surfaces. During the flare, the aircraft yawed to the left and touched down with the nose approximately 15 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. The left main wheel contacted the runway about 21 feet from the edge of the 150-foot-wide runway.
Post-Landing
The captain took control of the aircraft and applied corrective inputs, but the aircraft departed the runway. It subsequently struck a snow bank and mud, causing the nose landing gear to collapse.