Accident Overview
On February 26, 2010, at approximately 1130 mountain standard time, a ski-equipped experimental Keller FK1 STOL (N4XK) and a Cessna A185F (N1979T) collided during the landing rollout at Dixie USFS Airport (A05) in Dixie, Idaho. Both aircraft were operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flights. The pilot and passenger of N4XK were not injured, and the pilot, the sole occupant of N1979T, was also not injured. Substantial damage was sustained to the firewall of both aircraft.
Initially reported as an incident, the event was upgraded to an accident on March 8, 2010, after investigators determined that at least one aircraft had sustained substantial damage.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot of N4XK, N1979T had landed to the north, toward rising terrain, and turned around at the end of the strip. The pilot of N4XK then landed in the same direction. After touchdown, the aircraft did not decelerate as expected. The pilot attempted to maneuver between N1979T and a bank, but the airplane veered "uncontrollably" to the left toward N1979T. The pilot stated that the aircraft was traveling no faster than 15 miles per hour and was not responding to rudder input. The airplanes impacted nose-to-nose.
The pilot of N1979T reported that upon arrival, he overflew the strip several times to assess runway conditions. He contacted a friend on the ground who made a pass on a snow machine over the runway and reported the snow as "excellent, being both smooth and well-compacted." The pilot landed to the north and turned around at the end of the runway because the midfield tie-down area was unavailable. He was shutting down his aircraft when N4XK was landing. He noted that N4XK did not appear to be slowing down as much as expected, even though it was in deeper snow on the right side of the runway. About 100 feet from N1979T, N4XK's nose swung abruptly toward him, and he dove into the co-pilot seat and braced for impact.
Aircraft Damage
N4XK sustained damage to the spinner, propeller, engine mounts, and cowling. N1979T sustained damage to the propeller, cowling, engine, firewall, boot cowl, and windshield V-brace. Both pilots reported no mechanical problems with the airframe or engine of their respective aircraft.
Pilot Statements
In the RECOMMENDATION section of the NTSB pilot/operator report, the pilot of N4XK stated that landing on skis in an unfamiliar airport with untried surface conditions and another aircraft near the rollout area was not recommended.