20240211000569I

On February 11, 2024, at approximately 14:49 mountain standard time (MST), a Piper malibu-mirage PA-46-350P, operated by a certificated private pilot on a personal flight struck large blocks of snow and ice during the landing rollout on runway 36 at h.a. clark memorial field airport (kcmr), Williams, Arizona. The pilot-in-command (PIC) and two passengers were not injured during the landing event. The aircraft received minor damage.

The 14 code of federal regulations part 91 personal flight departed desert center airport (CN64) near desert center, California enroute to centennial airport (kapa), centennial, Colorado. The PIC elected to land at kcmr as part of a planned enroute fuel stop. Obtained adsb tracking indicated the incident aircraft entered a modified left base to final approach for runway 36 at kcmr. A final adsb ping from the aircraft at 21:46:51 UTC/14:46:51 MST was observed 2 miles from the threshold of runway 36. During the landing rollout on runway 36, the aircraft struck large blocks of snow and ice approximately 2,800’ feet past the threshold of runway 36. The aircraft’s left main landing gear and left-wing leading edge sustained evidence of impact damage.

The on-site investigation evidence and four (4) photographs provided by the PIC of the runway environment shortly after the incident revealed the width of the runway (left to right and centerline) covered in debris that appeared to be medium to large chunks of snow/ice. The FAA iic on-site examination of the runway on the following day (2/12/2024) revealed a clean runway. There was no evidence of swerving or tire rubber transfer marks on the runway that would indicate an attempt to avoid or loss of directional control during the landing. The runway appeared to be recently cleared of snow. The snow on the left/right sides of the runway was 3-4 feet in height and was mostly ice.

An examination of the aircraft revealed impact damage to the left main landing gear oleo strut. The oleo strut was angled aft and was leaking fluid from the upper seals. No other damage to the left main landing gear or it’s components was observed. The left-wing leading edge sustained impact bending damage. The damage begins 22” inches from the wing root and extends 18” across the upper and lower wing surfaces and leading edge. Some structural wing rib bending is evident. The damage was classified as minor and the landing event classified by the NTSB iic based on the observed damage as an “incident”.

The PIC provided a statement by telephone on 2/15/2024. The PIC stated that he was not aware of the contaminated runway at kcmr at the time of landing and there was no issued NOTAM stating the runway at kcmr was contaminated or closed. The PIC stated that due to the angle of runway 36, he did not notice or percieve the size of the snow and ice on the runway until he started rolling through it during the landing rollout. The PIC stated that he did not use excessive braking or swerve the aircraft in fear of loosing control of the aircraft and causing injury to himself and passengers.

A telephone interview with the kcmr airport manager was made on 2/19/2024. The airport manager stated that the city of Williams used snowplows to clear runway 18/36 of snow during the day on 2/9/2024 and that other aircraft used the runway over the weekend without complaint of runway contamination.

After the landing incident was reported by the PIC to the las vegas flight standards district office (las FSDO), a NOTAM was issued on 2/11/2024 (2303Z/1603L) “iprc 02/198 cmr rwy 18/36 unsafe numerous ice blocks 2402112303-2402122300”.

Root cause of this aircraft incident was the kcmr airport management not ensuring the 18/36 runway was free of contamination after recent snow clearing. In addition, a failure of kcmr airport management to visually inspect the 18/36 runway and issuing a NOTAM of the contaminated runway conditions.