What happened
During the positioning portion of an on-demand air charter flight, the pilot arrived at a remote, unattended airport. Prior to arrival, the pilot contacted the local FAA Flight Service Station via radio to inquire about any active Notice to Airman (NOTAM) for the facility. The station reported that no NOTAMs were currently on file.
Because the airport is unattended, runway conditions are not continuously monitored; maintenance is handled by local contract personnel who issue NOTAMs only if the runway becomes unusable. The pilot executed a short field landing, but upon touchdown, discovered the runway surface was covered in ice.
With braking action reported as nil, the pilot attempted to steer the aircraft toward the ramp area on the right side of the runway to prevent running off the end of the pavement. During this maneuver, the left main landing gear and the nose wheel sank into soft snow, causing the left wing to strike the ground. The aircraft sustained damage, but no fatalities or injuries were reported.