On February 6, 1999, a Beech 58 (registration N58AK) was involved in an aviation accident near Gaylord, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot not obtaining proper runway centerline alignment during landing. Associated factors were the pilot's obscured view through the iced windshield, the runway lights not activating simultaneously with the approach lights, incomplete visual detection of… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that icing obscured the windshield despite anti-icing fluid, and that only approach lights were visible during landing, leading to a collision with a snowbank.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a landing, icing conditions obscured the view through the aircraft's windshield, even after applying anti-icing fluid. According to the pilot's written report, the approach lights illuminated but the runway lights did not. The pilot stated that he had no visual reference to the runway during the landing flare. After touching down on the runway, the aircraft struck a snowbank located on the north side of the runway.
Airport Lighting System
The airport's lighting system operates on a pilot-controlled frequency of 118.9 MHz and uses two separate receivers. One receiver controls the approach lights, while the other controls the runway and taxiway lights. Due to the physical placement of the receivers, the approach lights receiver is located closer to the approach path, resulting in better reception compared to the runway lights receiver.
Sequence of Events
The pilot encountered icing conditions that reduced visibility through the windshield.
Anti-icing fluid was applied but did not clear the windshield sufficiently.
During the approach, the pilot observed that the approach lights were activated, but the runway lights remained off.
Lacking visual references to the runway during the flare, the pilot landed on the runway surface but subsequently struck a snowbank adjacent to the runway's north side.