Incident Overview

Date: Monday 17 April 1995
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-54G-5-DO (DC-4)
Owner/operator: Brooks Air Fuel
Registration Number: N898AL
Location: Kivalina Airport, AK (KVL) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Left Main Landing GearLeft Main Landing Gear
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A C-54 aircraft carrying fuel oil was diverted to Kivalina, AK, due to a NOTAM indicating thin, packed snow on the runway. The pilot reported a strip of approximately 3,000 feet long and 60 feet wide prior to landing. He observed gravel through the snow, but no snow banks or deeper snow. Upon landing, the left main landing gear encountered a snow berm, causing the aircraft to veer to the left. Subsequent impacts with other snow berms on the left side of the runway resulted in nose landing gear collapse.A C-54 aircraft carrying fuel oil was diverted to Kivalina, AK, due to a NOTAM indicating thin, packed snow on the runway. The pilot reported a strip of approximately 3,000 feet long and 60 feet wide prior to landing. He observed gravel through the snow, but no snow banks or deeper snow. Upon landing, the left main landing gear encountered a snow berm, causing the aircraft to veer to the left. Subsequent impacts with other snow berms on the left side of the runway resulted in nose landing gear collapse.

Description

The C-54 airplane was hauling fuel oil to be distributed at Kivalina, AK. Prior to departure from Galena (GAL) the pilot read a NOTAM for Kivalina that the runway had thin, packed snow on it. The pilot reported he flew over the 3,000 ft long by 60 ft wide strip prior to landing, and noted in the center of the runway some gravel was visible through a layer of surrounding snow. He could not see any snow banks or deeper snow in the landing area, and available notices to airmen did not mention any snow banks or snow berms on the runway. The airplane landed near the threshold and on the center line, but, the left main landing gear soon encountered a snow berm and the airplane was pulled to the left. The airplane subsequently impacted other snow berms on the left side of the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The pilot’s failure to identify a hazardous landing area. Factors in the accident are the presence of snow banks/berms on the runway, and the inadequate snow removal by airport personnel.”

Primary Cause

Pilot’s failure to identify a hazardous landing area due to the presence of snow banks/berms on the runway and inadequate snow removal by airport personnel.Pilot’s failure to identify a hazardous landing area due to the presence of snow banks/berms on the runway and inadequate snow removal by airport personnel.

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