What happened
During the period of dawn, a scheduled passenger flight was inbound for landing. A cargo airplane was also inbound and preceded the passenger flight. At the time of the incident, the airport air traffic control tower (AT least ATCT) was closed, though an automated flight service station (AFSS) was in operation. Because the AFSS personnel do not have a direct view of the runway, they rely on communications from airfield participants.
An airport maintenance crew was conducting snow removal training on the runway using a plow-equipped truck. Initially, the plow was positioned off the runway while waiting for the preceding cargo airplane to land. The crew of the passenger airplane contacted the AFSS at the VOR, 25.2 miles away, to advise they were inbound for landing; however, the crew was not notified of any ongoing airfield maintenance.
After the cargo airplane landed, the plow driver informed the AFSS of his intention to continue training and drove onto the runway. AFSS personnel advised the driver that the passenger airplane was approximately 10 minutes behind the cargo aircraft. Despite this, without further communication, the passenger jet touched down on the runway while the plow was driving along the right edge of the runway, facing away from the arriving aircraft. To avoid a collision, the pilot of the passenger jet swerved to the left during the rollout. The right wing tip of the aircraft passed approximately 32 feet from the plow truck.
Findings
Investigation revealed that the driver's verbal report of personnel and equipment on the runway to the AFSS constituted a local NOTAM only. This local NOTAM was not transmitted to the arriving passenger flight. Furthermore, because the ATCT was closed, there were no mandatory reporting points for arriving aircraft; only recommended traffic advisories for position reporting exist, which are contained within company flight operations manuals.