What happened
The pilot reported that the initial phase of the landing was uneventful, with a normal touchdown and rollout on the runway surface. However, as the aircraft began to decelerate, it started to drift toward the left side of the paved area. The pilot made several attempts to correct this deviation and stop the drift, but these efforts proved ineffective.
The aircraft ultimately departed the left edge of the runway and came to rest in a snowbank. Environmental conditions at the time included a twelve-knot direct crosswind from the right. The runway surface was covered in snow, creating slippery conditions. Prior to the incident, braking action had been reported as fair to poor, indicating reduced tire traction.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's account of the landing roll and the environmental factors present during the event. Examination of the weather reports confirmed the presence of a direct crosswind component that exceeded typical limits for some aircraft operations without adequate deicing or snow removal. The condition of the runway surface was verified as snow-covered, contributing to the reduced braking efficiency.
Findings
The primary factors leading to the incident were the slippery and snow-covered runway surface combined with a direct crosswind from the right. These conditions resulted in fair to poor braking action, which limited the pilot's ability to maintain directional control during deceleration. The aircraft's departure from the runway was a direct consequence of these environmental limitations.
Safety message
Pilots should exercise extreme caution when landing on snow-covered runways with crosswind components. Understanding the limitations of braking action reports is critical for safe operations in winter weather conditions.