Incident Overview
During dawn hours, a scheduled passenger flight was inbound for landing at an airport where the air traffic control tower (ATCT) was closed. An automated flight service station (AFSS) was in operation, but its personnel could not see the runway. A cargo airplane had preceded the passenger flight, and an airport maintenance crew was conducting snow removal training on the runway using a plow-equipped truck.
Sequence of Events
The passenger flight crew contacted the AFSS at the VOR, 25.2 miles away, advising they were inbound for landing. At that time, the plow was off the runway, waiting for the cargo airplane to arrive. The passenger flight crew was not advised of any airfield maintenance activity. After the cargo airplane landed, the plow driver informed the AFSS of his intentions and drove onto the runway to continue training. AFSS personnel advised the plow driver that the passenger airplane was about 10 minutes behind the cargo airplane. Without any further communication, the passenger flight touched down on the runway while the plow was driving along the right edge of the runway, facing away from the arriving jet. The passenger jet swerved to the left during the rollout to miss the plow truck, and its right wing tip passed about 32 feet from the plow truck.
Communication Issues
The verbal report of men and equipment on the runway, given by the plow driver to the AFSS, was issued only as a local NOTAM. This local NOTAM was not transmitted to the arriving passenger flight. Additionally, when the ATCT is closed, there are no mandatory reporting points for arriving airplanes; only recommended traffic advisories for position reporting are in place, as contained in the company flight operations manual.
Aftermath and Findings
The passenger jet and plow truck both continued without collision or damage. The incident highlights the lack of direct communication between the AFSS and the arriving flight regarding ground activity. No further details were provided in the source regarding any subsequent actions or investigations.