1988-12 · NASA ASRS report 99929
LNDG ON SNOW ADJACENT TO RWY.
DEPARTED FOR A DEST OF KALISPELL/GLACIER PARK INTL ARPT. FLT PLAN ROUTE: DIRECT BTG; V112; PSC; V187 RENGO INTXN; V536 FCA DIRECT. FLT CONDITIONS UNTIL MULLAN PASS WERE +5 DEGS C AT 9000'; IMC. AT MLP CLB WAS INITIATED TO 11000' WITH A +2 DEG C. NO ICE WAS EXPECTED NOR WAS IT FORECASTED. (GND STANDARD BRIEF WITH MC MINNVILLE FSS AND ENRTE WITH WALLA WALLA FLT WATCH AND ZSE.) I ENCOUNTERED A TRACK OF RIME ICE AT APPROX CELIR INTXN. AT THAT POINT I REQUESTED A STRAIGHT IN VECTOR FOR ILS. IT WAS DENIED AND I RECEIVED HOLD INSTRUCTIONS AT SMITH LAKE NDB (SAK). UPON ENTERING THE HOLD AT SAK I ENCOUNTERED RAPIDLY ACCUMULATING ICE--2' ON LEADING EDGE (RIME). DURING THIS TIME I REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE CLRNC AND NOTIFIED SALT LAKE OF MY FLT CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER I RECEIVED A CLRNC. AFTER PROC TURN INBND I ESTIMATED APPROX 3' BUILD UP WITH APPROX 1' ON THE WINDSHIELD. REALIZING THE ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD WOULDN'T ALL MELT OFF IN TIME; I REMAINED 1/2 DEG RIGHT OF LOC COURSE SO I WOULD SEE THE RWY OFF MY LEFT FRONT. UPON SEEING THE RWY; I TRIED TO MAKE THE BEST OF A ROTTEN SITUATION. I DIDN'T EXPECT THE ACFT TO DO WELL IF I ATTEMPTED TO MISS THE APCH AND CLB BACK INTO THE ICING CONDITIONS; SINCE IT WAS SO ILL-EQUIPPED. I SAW THE RWY AT APPROX 400' AGL AND TURNED TOWARDS IT AS IT BEING TO MY LEFT AFTER REMAINING 1/2' RIGHT OF LOC COURSE. I LANDED THE ACFT 15-20' LEFT OFF RWY USING VISUAL CUES OF MY LEFT SIDE WINDOW. I ATTEMPTED TO MELT THE ICE OFF THE WINDSHIELD WITH FULL DEFROST; BUT IT HAD LITTLE EFFECT AND I'M SURE THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED HAD I NOT ENCOUNTERED UNFORECASTED ICE IN SUCH MODERATION AND BETTER FWD VISIBILITY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES NO INJURIES TO PAX; BUT ACFT LNDG GEAR AND PROPS DAMAGED. AS HE ANGLED LEFT TO POS OVER RWY NO LONGER HAD ANY SIGHT OF IT DUE TO ICE BUILD UP. SNOW COVERED AREA TO LEFT OF RWY WHERE LANDED; APPROX 3' AND THEN 6' WHERE PUSHED WHEN RWY CLRED. ACFT THEN RETURNED TO RWY. FAA WILL TAKE NO ACTION; JUST SORRY IT HAPPENED.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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