JUNEAU, AK, USA
N6420E
CESSNA 185F
FAR 135 FLT WAS DIVERTED TO REMOTE STRIP TO PICK UP ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS. THE DISPATCHER WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE RUNWAY WAS COVERED BY 4 FT OF SNOW UNTIL THE ACFT WAS BEYOND RADIO RANGE. THE PLT ASSUMED THAT THE RWY HAD BEEN PLOWED AS IT WAS IN PREVIOUS WINTERS. THE BOX CANYON CONDITION OF THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN PRECLUDED THE PLT FROM OVER FLYING THE RWY TO CHECK ITS CONDITION. ON APPROACH THE RWY APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL SNOW PACKED SURFACE. THE PLT LANDED THE AMPHIB FLOAT ACFT WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING.
THE MISJUDGEMENT OF THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS ON THE PART OF THE PILOT PRIOR TO LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DEEP SNOW ON THE RUNWAY, BOX CANYON CONFIGURATION OF THE AREA PRECLUDING RUNWAY OVERFLIGHT, MARGINAL WEATHER/LIGHT CONDITIONS FOR ASSESSING THE RUNWAY STATUS AND FAILURE ON THE PART OF COMPANY DISPATCH PERSONNEL TO ACQUIRE AND PROVIDE THE PILOT WITH THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS BEFORE DIVERTING THE FLIGHT TO THE LOCATION OF THE MISHAP.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
