ANC03LA019

The two certificated airline transport pilots were positioning the airplane for a medical transport flight. The captain said that during his preflight weather briefing, the dispatcher informed him that there was a current Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) concerning 6 inches of loose snow on the runway at the destination airport. The dispatcher said that he had called the airport maintenance manager, at his home, in order to check on the current status of the runway. According to the dispatcher, the airport manager confirmed that there were 6 inches of snow on the runway, and stated that the runway would not be plowed until the next morning. The dispatcher reported to the captain that the airport maintenance manager said: "there were small planes going in and out of there all day, and that conditions were okay." According to the airport maintenance manager, he received a call from the operator's dispatcher, at home, requesting an updated report on the runway conditions. He said that he confirmed that there was still about 5-1/2 inches of snow on the runway, and that it would not be removed until early the next morning. He said that he told the dispatcher: "landing would be at your own risk." The captain said that just after touchdown, the airplane's main landing gear dug into the deep snow, and the airplane experienced a rapid deceleration. He said that the airplane tracked down the centerline on the runway for about 900 feet, but eventually veered to the left. The left propeller struck a runway edge light, and the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, down an embankment, and into an area of tree-covered terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Both flight crewmembers noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

On December 18, 2002, about 2110 Alaska standard time, a Swearingen SA-226T airplane, N55ZP, operated by F.S. Air Service, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska, sustained substantial damage when the airplane departed from the runway and encountered terrain during landing at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a medical transport positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The medical transport was being conducted as a part of Aero-Med International, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. The two certificated airline transport pilots, and the two flight nurses aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The captain canceled the IFR flight plan prior to commencing the visual approach. The flight originated at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, about 2040.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) on December 20, the captain of the accident airplane reported that the airplane was being positioned in order to transport a patient to Anchorage. He stated that prior to leaving Anchorage, both flight crewmembers received a detailed weather briefing via the operator's on-site dispatch center. The captain said that during his preflight weather briefing, the dispatcher informed him that there was a current Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) concerning 6 inches of loose snow on the runway at the Soldotna Airport. The dispatcher explained to the captain that he had just called the airport maintenance manager, at his home, in order to check on the current status of the runway. According to the operator's dispatcher, the airport manager confirmed that there were 6 inches of snow on the runway, and that the runway would not be plowed until the next morning. The dispatcher reported to the captain that the airport maintenance manager said: "there were small planes going in and out of there all day, and that conditions were okay." The captain explained that as the flight approached the Soldotna Airport, and the airport environment came into view, he canceled the flight's IFR flight plan, and proceeded on a visual approach to runway 25. The captain said that just after touchdown, the airplane's main landing gear dug into the deep snow, and the airplane experienced a rapid deceleration. He said that the airplane tracked down the centerline on the runway for about 900 feet, but eventually veered to the left. He said that he attempted to correct the veer, but the airplane continued to the left, and the left propeller struck a runway edge light. The airplane continued off the left side of the 5,000-foot long by 130-foot wide runway, down an embankment, and into an area of tree-covered terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The captain reported that after he exited the airplane, and during his inspection of the runway surface condition, a layer of ice between the snow and the paved surface of the runway was noted. He added that the combination of the ice-covered runway and the snow made it so slick that it was difficult to walk or stand on.

During a telephone conversation with the IIC on December 20, the Soldotna Airport Maintenance Manager said that he received a call from the F.S. Air dispatcher, at home, about 2000, on December 18, requesting an updated report on the runway conditions at the Soldotna Airport. He said that he confirmed that there was still about 5-1/2 inches of snow on the runway, and that it would not be removed until early the next morning. He said that he told the dispatcher: "landing would be at your own risk."

According to the operator's director of operations, the dispatcher's phone lines were not recorded at the time of the accident. He added that following this accident, telephone-recording capabilities were installed on the dispatcher's incoming and outgoing telephone lines.

The closest weather observation station is located at the Soldotna Airport. On December 18, at 2135, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Sky conditions and ceiling, 1500 feet few; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 100 degrees at 4 knots; temperature, 9 degrees F; dew point, 7 degrees F; altimeter, 29.90.

Notice to airmen (NOTAM) 12-008, was issued for the Soldotna Airport at 1547, stating, in part: Soldotna Airport, 6 inches of loose snow on runway (while in effect).

The Federal Aviation Administration's Airport/Facility Directory, Alaska Supplement, airport remarks for the Soldotna Airport, states, in part: "Airport remarks, Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to landing."

Both flight crewmembers noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.