What happened
The incident occurred during a routine touch-and-go landing maneuver. As the pilot initiated the braking process to slow the aircraft after touchdown, the airplane began to deviate from the centerline of the runway. The aircraft veered sharply to the left, departing the paved surface and striking a snowbank located off the left side of the runway. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, resulting in the aircraft nosing over.
The investigation
Investigation into the runway conditions revealed that the surface was not clear. Reports indicated the presence of areas of patchy ice across the runway. This hazardous condition was disseminated via the Automatic Terminal Information System (ATIS), which provides current weather and operational data to arriving and departing aircraft.
Findings
The pilot confirmed during the investigation that he had listened to the ATIS broadcast prior to the operation, indicating awareness of the reported runway conditions. Despite this knowledge, the combination of braking input and reduced friction likely contributed to the loss of directional control. The primary factor was the patchy ice on the runway surface, which compromised tire traction during the critical phase of landing roll.
Safety message
Pilots must exercise extreme caution when operating on runways with reported ice or snow contamination. Braking effectiveness is significantly reduced in these conditions, and directional control can be lost even with minimal steering input. Awareness of ATIS reports is essential, but practical application requires adjusted techniques appropriate for the specific surface friction levels.