Incident Details
The captain reported that upon landing, the aircraft unexpectedly pulled to the right for unknown reasons. The aircraft then departed the runway surface. Subsequently, a propeller blade contacted an unidentified object, causing the blade to separate from the hub. The detached blade then struck the aircraft's fuselage.
Runway Conditions
A representative from the airport stated that snow plowing operations were in progress at the time of the accident. The driver of a snow plow heard the aircraft's transmission on the Unicom frequency and suspended plowing activities. Approximately 45 minutes passed before the aircraft touched down. According to the report, the runway had not been plowed to its full width; specifically, the south side of the runway remained unplowed. Official airport condition reports from the day indicate that a snowbank approximately 24 inches high existed on the south side of the runway.
Communications and Delays
The report also notes that no radio communications were made between the flight crew and ground personnel regarding updated runway conditions after the plowing operations ceased. The 45-minute interval between the suspension of plowing and the landing may have allowed conditions to change, but the source does not specify any direct link.