2023-05 · NASA ASRS report 2003270
Light Transport flight crew reported upon landing at AHN there were ground personnel and equipment in the grass safety area adjacent to the runway; operating in close proximity to landing aircraft; near the touchdown zone. No NOTAM was issued; the equipment was unmarked; and ATC did not alert the landing aircraft of the hazard.
We were cleared for the visual Runway 09. Upon crossing the threshold; I noticed a 6-wheeled green gator on the LH side of the runway; just outside the runway lights heading downwind alongside the runway. He was approximately 1000-1500 ft. down the runway from the threshold but within the touchdown zone safety area. Our left wing cleared him by approximately 25-30 ft. at about 135-140 kts. right after touchdown. After shutdown at the FBO; I checked the NOTAMs again and no NOTAMs existed for men or equipment working alongside the active runway. I queried the Ground Controller and asked if there had been a NOTAM issued and stated 'NO.' Then indicated to me that they were people with the airport spraying for weeds controlled by the airport authority. There isn't much we could do since the equipment was green and blended into the green grass. By the time either of us noticed the person and equipment; we were far too late into the landing to initiate the go-around and clear the equipment by any better margin. We should have been at least alerted to their presence and they need to have flags to improve visibility.
I was landing on Runway 9 at AHN. Upon touchdown; I noticed a person riding a tractor on the left edge of the runway in the grass and in the safety area approximately 1500 ft. from the approach end. We landed and taxied to parking normally. We queried the Ground Controller and asked if there was a NOTAM for this activity; and it was stated that people had been working all day and no NOTAM was issued. ATC never informed us that there were people or equipment in the safety area. We calculated that our wingtip missed the tractor by approximately 25-30 ft.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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