ANC95LA025

The pilot was landing at a remote airport as the positioning portion of an on-demand air charter flight. The pilot made a radio call to the area FAA flight service station to check if a local notice to airman (NOTAM) had been issued for the airport and learned that none were on file. The airport is unattended and the runway condition is not monitored; however, the runway condition is maintained by local contract maintenance personnel who can issue a local NOTAM if the runway is not usable. The pilot performed a short field landing and upon touchdown, found the runway covered by ice. Braking action was nil and to avoid running off the end of the runway, the pilot maneuvered the airplane onto the ramp area at the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear and nose wheel dug into soft snow and the left wing struck the ground.

On January 4, 1995, at 1015 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N73467, registered to and operated by Arctic Circle Air Service of Fairbanks, Alaska, slid off the side of the runway at Akiak, Alaska, during the landing roll out.

The positioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Bethel, Alaska, and the destination was Akiak. A visual flight rules flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Airline Transport Certificated Pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage.

According to Arctic Circle Air Service's Director of Operations, the runways were covered with ice and because the temperature had warmed to 40 degrees fahrenheit, the runway surfaces were very slippery. The pilot reported that prior to landing, he called the Kenai Flight Service Station (FSS) on the radio and requested any local, notice to airman (NOTAM), concerning the condition of the runway at Akiak. No notices had been filed. The pilot selected runway 03 and performed a short field landing. When the pilot applied the brakes, no braking action was noted. To avoid running off the end of the runway, the pilot maneuvered the airplane into the ramp area at the right side of the runway. The nose wheel and left main landing gear dug into soft snow. The airplane received damage to the left wing and nose gear.

The airport/facilities directory indicated in part: "Akiak runway 03/21 is unattended. The runway condition is not monitored. A visual inspection is recommended prior to using the runway. The apron edges are soft." The operator indicated that the airport has a contract maintenance person who is responsible for keeping the airport in a safe condition. If runway conditions are not safe, the maintenance person should issue a local airport NOTAM for distribution to the users of the airport.